Sleep Apnea and Snoring

Why Sleep Apnea & Snoring Must Not Be Ignored

You wake up drowsy and overtired. You wonder why sleep is not allowing you to feel fresh and restored each morning. It could be that sleep apnea & snoring are the culprits. At Provo Family Dentistry in Provo, Utah our team offers specialized treatment for patients who have been diagnosed with sleep apnea or who fear their snoring is going to lead to ongoing problems with their health and well-being.

The Major Problems with Sleep Apnea & Snoring

You might have been surprised by that last sentence. Many of our patients are quite shocked to discover that both snoring and sleep apnea affect much more than the quality of their sleep. Let’s first consider what sleep apnea means and learn why it is a risk to your health.

Sleep apnea comes in many forms, but the most common is called OSA or Obstructive Sleep Apnea. The way it works is quite simple. When laying down to sleep each night, the soft tissue at the back of the mouth and throat collapse upon one another, blocking your airway. When it is partial, it causes the sound we know as snoring. When it is complete, it is what forces you awake with that gasping and snorting sound many people mistakenly describe as snoring.

This can happen dozens upon dozens of times each night, and the biggest problem is that it means you stop breathing that many times per night, as well. Not only does this mean excessive fatigue during the day, but it boosts your risk for health issues like heart attack, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes and even issues like accidents or falls.

This tells us that snoring is often a symptom of sleep apnea. If you wake over tired and/or hear from a partner that your snoring is excessive, it is time to visit our dental office to discuss some solutions. Whether you have visited a sleep clinic or you are simply tired of hearing how much you snore – we have some options for treating sleep apnea & snoring.

How Sleep Apnea Is Treated

If you have visited a sleep clinic or been formally diagnosed by your physician with sleep apnea, it is likely that you have had a CPAP machine recommended to you. This is a complex machine that requires a special mask fitted over the face and through which air is forced and keeps your airways open. Many people struggle with these machines, and their medical providers can let them know if an oral appliance might be a more comfortable form of effective treatment.

If so, or if you are simply a chronic snorer without any apnea diagnosis, you can visit our dentist office and discuss an oral appliance for sleep apnea & snoring. There are different designs based on your specific needs, but most will work towards the same goal. What is the goal? It is to prevent the soft tissues from collapsing together. This is easily done by appliances that realign the jaw or teeth and keep the airways open.