Snoring Problems?
Often, people are unaware they have a sleeping disorder, but it’s estimated more than 80 million people in North America snore while they sleep. When the airway is obstructed, usually by the tongue or collapsed throat tissue, it becomes difficult for air to pass through your throat, causing the tissues to vibrate, which is what we hear as snoring. Causes of snoring include:
- Excess body weight
- Alcohol consumption
- Some sleep medications
- Large tonsils
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
What is Sleep Apnea?
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep breathing disorder that prevents proper breathing cycles as you sleep. If you suffer from sleep apnea, your breathing briefly stops periodically while you sleep, as much as 20 to 30 times an hour, preventing your body from getting enough oxygen. Your body will naturally jolt you awake to correct your breathing pattern, disrupting your sleep, which then leads to fatigue, lack of mental clarity, morning headaches, mood swings, or other symptoms. The constant sleep-wake cycle prevents you from getting the benefits of a deep sleep, causing you to be drowsy during the day.
Our Sleep Apnea & Snoring Solutions
If you have mild to moderate sleep apnea, Lifetime Dental offers oral appliances to help you breathe easier, sleep better, and live well. You may have already talked to your primary care physician or had a sleep study. That exam is generally the first step to understanding your symptoms and next steps toward treatment. Often the option of a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine will be discussed with your PCP, but with mild to moderate sleep apnea – or to prevent or lessen snoring – an oral appliance may be your best option.
Our office is pleased to provide a customized solution for snoring and sleep apnea through our oral appliances. These appliances are called mandibular advancement devices (MAD). Fitted comfortably to rest in your mouth, these personalized mouth guards sit over your teeth and gently adjust your jaw position as you sleep to prevent your airway from becoming obstructed. This appliance helps eliminate snoring and facilitate proper breathing patterns, allowing you to receive a good night’s rest and improve your quality of life.
Because sleep apnea must be diagnosed by a licensed medical professional, we suggest visiting your primary doctor for a diagnosis. Once diagnosed, Dr. Gubler, Dr. Gorman, or Dr. Hill will be happy to assist you in receiving a customized appliance for sleep apnea.
Learn more about sleep apnea treatment in Rogers, Arkansas, by calling Lifetime Dental at 479-631-9393 and meeting with our dentists.