Snoring can be a symptom of a serious medical condition that can be life threatening.  Dr. Smith knows that it is very important to determine whether or not your snoring is a symptom of the slow killer, obstructive sleep apnea.  It is very important to understand that snoring is thunder (just noise) and sleep apnea is lightning (potentially very lethal).

Snoring (thunder) is the sound made when the tissues of the palate, tongue and throat partially block the airway and vibrate against the back of the throat.  It is estimated that 45 million people snore every night affecting themselves and their bed partners.  Snoring can lead to more serious health problems.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (lightning) affects more than 20 million Americans and can lead to high blood pressure, heart attacks, stroke, depression, muscle pain, excessive daytime sleepiness and other destructive problems.  Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a condition where the tissues of the throat and tongue completely block the airway causing brief periods of suffocation, which can dangerously reduce the body’s oxygen levels.  The brain alerts the muscles of the airway to open the blocked airway to prevent brain damage or death.  This disrupts the quality of sleep.  However, most people with obstructive sleep apnea are unaware that they are experiencing any of these cycles during sleep!  They simply wake up tired and feel unrested.  The most common symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea are loud snoring, intermittent breathing stoppages during sleep (unknown to the sufferer), excess daytime sleepiness, restless sleep, difficulty concentrating, poor memory, irritability or moodiness and waking up with a headache.

Benign snoring (thunder) is easily treated with an oral appliance.  If you have symptoms of sleep apnea (lightning) then Dr. Smith will work with your physician to determine if you suffer with this lethal disease.  If you have already been diagnosed with mild or moderate Obstructive Sleep Apnea your first line therapy, according to the top experts in the field of sleep medicine, is a dental sleep apnea appliance.  If you have severe sleep apnea you may still benefit from a dental sleep apnea appliance.

Snoring and sleep apnea appliances work similarly in that they slightly advance the lower jaw and tongue which helps keep the airway open while you sleep.  If you’ve ever learned CPR you were taught to pull the jaw forward to open the airway.  Try this – breathe normally and then push your jaw out or forward and feel the difference in air resistance!  It’s easier to breathe with the tongue and jaw forward.  Now, pull your jaw backwards and feel the increased air resistance.  This is what happens when you fall asleep at night.  Your muscles relax and your jaw and tongue fall back into your throat blocking your airway.  Oral appliances are small retainer type devices that, when properly fit adjusted and monitored by a dentist with advanced training, are well tolerated by patients.

Patients that have been diagnosed with Obstructive Sleep Apnea are usually given a CPAP to wear to bed.  If you have been given a CPAP to wear and you are not wearing it or would like an alternative, WE CAN HELP!!  If you are not wearing your CPAP to bed then you are not treating your serious and potentially lethal condition.  Oral Appliance Therapy can give you freedom from your “hose to the nose” and successfully treat your sleep apnea.  CPAP intolerant patients now have a new choice.

Dr. Anna Smith is an active member of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine and uses the latest techniques in non-CPAP oral appliance therapy for both snoring and sleep apnea.  Sleep apnea appliances come in a variety of designs and Dr. Smith will custom fit your appliance in our office.