Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea can be a potentially life threatening condition. Unlike simple snoring, a sufferer of sleep apnea will stop breathing for as much as a minute to a minute and a half. This can happen many times during the night. As a result, the person will awaken in order to restart the breathing process. This causes sleep deprivation leading to lack of alertness and drowsiness during the day. It is important that cases of sleep apnea be diagnosed by a physician. If there is airway obstruction, many times, surgical procedures can be performed to alleviate the problem.

C-PAP Nose piece

A C-PAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine may be prescribed. A specially fitted nosepiece is worn at night during sleep. It helps to keep the airway open, prevent snoring, and stops interruptions in breathing. There are some sufferers who can be helped with oral appliances that bring the mandible (lower jaw) forward, helping to open the airway. It can be helpful for those who have difficulty wearing a C-PAP machine at night. A physician should make the decision as to whether to try the oral appliance or not. If so, our office can construct an appliance to see if it alleviates the problem.

Snoring

Snoring can be a very irritating problem that can put a strain on relationships. However, snoring can be a sign of the much more serious malady called sleep apnea. Not all snorers have sleep apnea, therefore, it is important to have the condition checked by a physician to be certain that it is not a serious problem. Even if sleep apnea is not present, snoring can be very annoying, even going so far as causing marital problems. Sufferers have even woken themselves up during a deep sleep due to their snoring. There are some solutions available that can be done without the need of a professional: lose weight, change to a different sleep position, and avoid things like alcohol, sedatives, or caffeine before bedtime. There are some surgical solutions that can help. Radio frequency waves can be used to shrink the tissue of the soft palate or a laser-assisted uvuloplasty can be done to remove the uvula. It has been found that holding the mandible (lower jaw) forward during sleep can help some people to stop snoring.

Appliance to Hold Mandible (lower jaw) Forward

In our office, we can construct an anti-snoring appliance, but only after a patient has been checked by a physician to rule out sleep apnea.