Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts. This can prevent your body from getting enough oxygen. If you snore loudly and feel tired even after a full night’s sleep, you might have sleep apnea. There are different types of sleep apnea with the more common type being Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). OSA occurs when your upper airway becomes blocked many times while you sleep, reducing or completely blocking airflow. The preferred method of treating OSA is a CPAP machine, however, an oral appliance can also be an alternative treatment for OSA. Some patients may find that a CPAP machine is too much of a hassle to use and the convenience of a dental appliance is much preferred.

  • Need a CPAP but not quite ready yet? Call us to see if a snore guard/ dental appliance is the right thing for you.

    Here at The Wobbly Tooth Dental Practice, we can customize your snore and night guards to your bite perfectly. This oral appliance therapy can help you with snoring by acting as a cushion between the top and bottom dental arches while the other creates more space between the front teeth to prevent the top and lower jaw from touching. Snore prevention mouth pieces look similar to night guards, but instead of acting as a cushion or spacer, they keep the lower jaw forward, thereby preventing pressure on the larynx.

  • Snoring occurs when there is an obstructed flow of air through the mouth and nose areas. Sixty-seven percent of adults suffer from snoring, and it is estimated that over 120 million people in the United States snore every single night. Snoring can originate from a variety of different causes, but it usually stems from an obstructed nasal airway, a deviated septum, nasal polyps, weak throat and tongue muscles, bulky throat tissue or a long soft palate and/or uvula. Habitual snorers are commonly at risk for sleep apnea, as well as chronic tiredness, unnecessary strain on the heart and a reduction in their overall quality of life.

  • Oral appliance therapy consists of an oral appliance you wear in your mouth to improve airflow when you sleep. More specifically, it is a Mandibular Advancement Device (MAD), designed to open the rested constricted airway. It’s similar to a mouthpiece or orthodontic retainer, fitting comfortably in your mouth to reposition your jaw or tongue. Oral appliances can reduce symptoms associated with TMJ disorders and obstructive sleep apnea.

Leave us a message and we’ll get back to you!