Sawing wood. Calling the hogs. Rattling shingles. Whatever your favorite term is for snoring, they all refer to the disturbance that your nocturnal noisemaking creates. If you sound like a chainsaw at night, it may be a sign that you have sleep apnea, a common condition that disrupts your breathing. How common is sleep apnea? One recent study estimates that nearly 1 billion adults aged 30 to 69 could have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), with approximately 425 million of those suffering from moderate to severe OSA. Snoring, and the sleep apnea that often causes it, is not only disruptive to your sleep but can lead to increased risk for other health issues. Luckily, there’s an easy way to treat sleep apnea that doesn’t involve machines, masks, or hoses. An oral appliance that you wear during sleep can be the snoring treatment you’ve been looking for.
At St. Apollonia Dental, we can help you stop snoring, reduce your risk of serious health issues, and ensure a restful night’s sleep.
What Happens When You Snore?
Snoring is not just a disturbance for the other members of the household. It’s often the primary symptom of obstructive sleep apnea. If you suffer from OSA, your throat muscles, in their relaxed state during sleep, allow the soft tissue to block the airway partially or wholly. It’s like a door that occasionally gets stuck, preventing the free flow of anything through it. This obstruction results in decreased oxygen levels in the blood, sometimes plummeting by as much as 40%. The brain quickly realizes the drop in oxygen and sends out alarms, causing sudden, brief awakenings to restore normal breathing. To those around you, it might appear as “jerking awake” or “gasping for breath,” which are signs you should not ignore.
These disruptions can happen dozens of times during the night. While the sleeper might not remember these interruptions, the quality of their sleep significantly deteriorates. Over time, this leads to heightened daytime fatigue and increased risk for more serious conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.
What Is an Oral Appliance?
Several interventions are available for sleep apnea and the snoring it causes. The most common is a CPAP machine, which pushes air into your lungs through a hose-and-mask apparatus to keep your airways open, allowing for uninterrupted sleep. While effective, these machines can be noisy, expensive, and uncomfortable to wear at night.
For those looking for a quieter, less invasive solution, oral appliances offer a more discreet and comfortable way to treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). These dental devices keep the airway open during sleep without machines or surgery. OSA treatment typically involves two distinct types of oral appliances:
- Mandibular advancement devices (MADs): MADs are the most common oral appliances for OSA. They fit over the upper and lower teeth and pull the lower jaw (mandible) forward. The forward movement of the jaw shifts the tongue, which increases space in the back of the throat and helps maintain an open airway throughout the night.
- Tongue-stabilizing devices (TSDs): TSDs use suction to hold the tongue forward, preventing the base of the tongue from collapsing into the airway. As a result, the airway remains open while you sleep.
Oral appliances offer an excellent alternative for individuals who find CPAP machines uncomfortable or prefer a less invasive treatment option. Conversely, surgery is considered the most serious method of addressing snoring. However, it is typically reserved as a last resort when other treatments have failed.
The Benefits of Using an Oral Appliance
We offer custom-fitted oral appliances designed for maximum comfort and convenience, providing a highly effective alternative to CPAP machines. Because they fit entirely inside your mouth, they’re easy to wear and adjust to. These compact, portable appliances require no electricity, making them ideal for travel or daily use. They are also much more discreet than CPAP machines so you can sleep without bulky equipment.
Our oral appliances are tailored to your unique needs to ensure both comfort and effectiveness. They work silently, providing a quiet, peaceful sleep environment. By significantly reducing or even eliminating snoring, these devices help improve the quality of sleep for both you and your partner.
Quiet Your Nights: Discover Effective Solutions Today
Are you tired of losing sleep over your snoring? At St. Apollonia Dental, we offer a simple, effective solution that doesn’t involve noisy machines or uncomfortable masks. Our custom-fitted oral appliances can help you breathe more easily and sleep soundly. Take control of your sleep and well-being today. Contact us to schedule your free consultation and discover how our oral appliances can help you!
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