Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea Treatment
Have you been diagnosed with Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
One of the best sleep apnea tests that we recommend our patients to diagnose any sleep problem is to ask their bed partner if they snore loudly or if they stop breathing repeatedly during the night.
Snoring is a sound created by the collapse of the soft tissue structures of the upper airway. It happens while you sleep. Snoring can negatively affect yours and possibly your companion’s sleep. It is also a potential health hazard since there can be a decrease in oxygen coming into the body while asleep.
If you snore, there are chances that you may also have Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) which is a more serious medical condition.
OSA occurs when the tongue and soft palate collapse onto the back of the throat to completely block the airway. There is a pause in the breathing and the oxygen levels in the blood drop. Sleep apnea can cause chronic sleepiness, strokes, heart attacks, heartburn, morning headaches, depression and impotence, among other complications.
Snoring and Sleep Apnea Appliance
The snoring and/or the sleep apnea appliance are mandibular advancement splints. These splints move the lower jaw slightly forward and tightens the soft tissue and muscles of the upper airway preventing obstruction while you sleep. It also prevents the tissues of the upper airway from vibrating as air passes over them, which is the major cause of snoring.
This appliance is very comfortable and easy to wear because it is custom-made to fit your mouth and it does not impinge on your tongue. You can open and close your mouth normally as the appliance does not lock or fix your jaws together.
