Treatment for Snoring and Sleep Apnea

Total health comes from a combination of factors, with balance being the key to avoid certain disease processes in the body. An important factor that is easily forgotten is sleep. Without adequate sleep, the body simply cannot function properly, and everything from mood to eating habits is affected. Snoring is a problem that plagues millions of people around the world, often affecting not only the snorer but also their bed partner.

The significance of snoring goes beyond the fact that a bed partner's sleep is negatively impacted. In some instances, this irritating habit is the result of a more serious condition, a sleep disorder called obstructive sleep apnea. While not everyone who snores suffers from sleep apnea, it is important to investigate the underlying causes of loss of sleep so that proper treatment can be obtained.

More than simple snoring, obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the airway becomes blocked as the patient is sleeping. During sleep, all the muscles in the body relax, including those around the throat. As this happens, the airway becomes obstructed and breathing actually stops for several seconds. As a natural response, sleep is disrupted in order to open the airway, but when the muscles relax once again, sometimes minutes later, breathing will once again stop.

At New Health Dental, we look for signs of problematic snoring during routine dental examinations. For those who experience snoring that steals their sleep, or suspect they have obstructive sleep apnea, we work with the patient's physician to obtain an accurate diagnosis so that the right form of treatment may be started.

Obstructive sleep apnea, which may be worsened by certain lifestyle factors such as weight, is medically treated using what is called a CPAP machine. This piece of equipment consists of a facemask worn over the mouth and nose during sleep. Through the mask, constant air pressure is delivered, keeping the airway open. The issue with this medical approach is patient compliance, which is less than 50 percent and primarily due to discomfort associated with the facemask.

In many cases, snoring and sleep apnea can be remedied with a convenient and comfortable oral appliance custom fabricated in our dental laboratory. Far less intrusive than the CPAP, oral appliances are similar to a mouth guard, even allowing the patient to drink water while wearing them.