Can patients in Mesa use a dental appliance for chronic snoring?

While chronic snoring is commonly talked about when discussing sleeping with bed partners, it is nothing to scoff at. Chronic snoring is not only annoying for those who are sharing a room, but it can be a sign of a more serious medical condition known as sleep apnea. However, just because a person snores doesn’t mean they are suffering from this sleeping disorder. Regardless, it is essential that patients who snore regularly undergo a sleep study with their primary care physician for proper diagnosis.

What many patients in the Mesa area do not realize is that chronic snoring can be addressed by a dentist. Dr. Edward Fritz of New Health Dental is a holistic dentist that can provide patients with an effective solution known as dental appliances for snoring.

Dental appliances are used for oral appliance therapy in reducing snoring and addressing the symptoms of conditions such as obstructive sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition that results from a blockage of the airways when patients sleep. This may be caused by excess fat around the neck, the tongue falling back into the throat, or jaw misalignment. In order to address this problem, patients may need to use an oral appliance to keep the airways open and reduce blockage. In doing so, patients will enjoy better quality sleep as well as improved quality of life as they will awaken feeling well-rested. Patients will also avoid problems associated with the condition such as depression, anxiety, loss of concentration and memory, and daytime fatigue.

Oral appliance therapy is a more popular method of treatment than other physician-directed solutions such as CPAP usage. The CPAP device includes a mask that is worn over the mouth and nose to keep the airways open and therefore provide a more restorative level of sleep for those suffering from obstructive sleep apnea. Unfortunately, this cumbersome, uncomfortable device is often avoided and therefore patients do not comply with their treatment as advised.

Dr. Edward Fritz and the team of New Health Dental encourage individuals in the Mesa area who are dealing with chronic snoring to undergo effective diagnostics to determine the source of their problem and then work with our dental team to find out if oral appliance therapy is an appropriate treatment option.

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