Do You Snore???
Snoring isn't just a noisy nuisance. Snoring can interrupt sleep and place pressure on relationships. Persistent loud snoring and sleep disruption can contribute to chronic fatigue, slowed responses, memory problems, lack of concentration and performance problems. Many snoring couples resort to sleeping in separate rooms.
When snoring is so loud that it disturbs the sleep of the snorers themselves, it may be a sign of a related condition known as OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA(OSA).
OSA sufferers may have hundreds of episodes of apnea or hypopnia every night.
During normal sleep, the muscles that control the tongue and soft palate hold the airway open. When these muscles relax, the airway narrows leading to snoring and breathing difficulties. If the muscles relax too much, the airway can collapse causing obstruction, leading to sleep apnea.
For those people who are cpap intolerant, we can help!!
During our sleep exam, we will take digital photos of the airway and tongue position as well as an Eppworth sleep scale. You will be sent home with a portable sleep monitor which will tell us how many apnea and snoring events occur as well as measuring the oxygen saturation of your blood. If you are a candidate for treatment, a SOMNODENT MANDIBULAR ADVANCEMENT APPLIANCE will be made for you. This is a custom fitted device made for the upper and lower jaw to advance the mandible into a more protruded position. This tightens the muscles and keeps the airway open. This device is well accepted by patients and treatment efficacy is backed by a large body of clinical evidence.