Snoring and Sleep Apnea Appliances

Snoring often occurs when there is an airway restriction in the throat. During sleep, muscles and soft tissue in the throat relax decreasing the size of the airway.

Treatment of Snoring

There are some surgical treatments for snoring, such as removal of the uvula, enlarged tonsils and adenoids. The success rate is very low for this surgery. If the condition is severe, complete blockage of the airway can occur. This is called Sleep Apnea. For most snorers the most non-invasive, comfortable and effective snoring solution is a dentist fabricated oral snoring device.

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea can be caused by either complete obstruction of the airway (obstructive sleep apnea) or partial obstruction (obstructive hypopnea-- hypopnea is slow, shallow breathing). There are three types of sleep apnea—obstructive, central, and mixed. Of these, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common.

With OSA episodes, non-breathing typically lasts 10 to 20 seconds, 20 to 30 times or more in an hour. During these periods the amount of oxygen in the blood may drop.

Signs of Sleep Apnea

• restless nights
• very sleepy during the day
• loud snoring

Most people with sleep apnea snore but not all people who snore have sleep apnea. Untreated sleep apnea can increase the risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, diabetes, and work-related or driving-related accidents.

Treatments

Some treatment options include oral appliances, positional therapy, positive pressure therapy, and surgical options.