Sleep Apnea Oral Appliances

Do you Snore?

Snoring affects approximately 90 million American adults – 37 million on a regular basis. nationalsleepfoundation.org

What Causes Snoring?

During sleep, the throat muscles relax and your tongue falls backward, and the walls of the throat sag, causing them to become narrow. As you breathe, the walls of the throat vibrate, causing a rattling sound, or "snoring".

Chronic snoring is not normal and should be evaluated by a health care professional to determine the underlying cause. Common conditions related to snoring include obesity, alcohol use, enlarged tonsils or adenoids and other abnormalities of the throat and nasal passages.

Health implications of snoring include daytime sleepiness, contributing to poor job performance and difficulty concentrating. 50% of people who snore loudly have obstructive sleep apnea. nationalsleepfoundation.org

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

If the walls of the throat collapse to the point that it becomes completely obstructed, this creates "apnea", in which the snorer literally stops breathing briefly and repeatedly during sleep. Sleep apnea is a serious disorder which requires medical attention.

Sleep apnea can be a contributing factor to hypertension, heart disease and depression. A common symptom for sleep apnea patients is drowsy driving, which places both the driver and others on the highway at extreme risk.

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) is the standard therapy for sleep apnea. During sleep, the patient wears a face mask that is connected to a pump designed to provide a positive air flow into the nasal passage to keep the airway open.

Oral Appliance Therapy for Snoring & Sleep Apnea

In some cases, dental appliances can be used to prevent snoring, or, to assist the CPAP device. Dr. Hooper is trained in supporting the managing physician in designing an oral appliance that gently positions the lower jaw into a forward position to help maintain an open airway.

A diagnosis of sleep apnea is confirmed through a sleep study, conducted by physicians at a sleep center. If you or a loved one suffer from chronic snoring, we recommend that you contact your physician for an evaluation. At your regular preventive visits, Dr. Hooper will ask screening questions about snoring and sleep restfulness, and may refer you to your physician for further evaluation.

Please do not hesitate to contact us for more information about snoring and sleep apnea.

Reference: nationalsleepfoundation.org