Many people snore.
The problem is handles with humor and it does not seem to bother
the perpetrators as much as the significant others: wives,
husbands, and children. Left untreated marriage and
relationships suffer. But it is more than just a case of hurting
the one you love. When one snores there is a reduction of oxygen
to the body. As a result the heart has to work harder. Lack of
oxygen can result in poor sleep so one is tired during the day.
Lack of oxygen can result in headaches. In the extreme sleep
apnea results which is life threatening. Sleep apnea can lead to
heart attack. What is the cause of your snoring problem? When
you sleep the soft tissues in the throat and mouth relax making
the airway smaller. The smaller opening increases the velocity
of air and that in turn vibrates the the soft tissues and
creates the snoring sound that annoys so many people.
Sleep apnea is one of the medical health problems we can pick up
when patients under go our Monitored Anesthesia Care (MAC).
There are many treatments for sleep apnea for serious problems
it is recommended patients suspecting sleep apnea go to a sleep
diagnosis center. You can take the sleep apnea quiz to see if
you have a serious problem. Surgical intervention by an ENT
doctor or sleep specialist may be the solution for you. But the
success rate averages about only 40 percent. On the other hand
for patients not wanting surgery or cannot afford the surgery an
alternative is sleep apnea appliance. Also the
success rate is
claimed to be higher with the dental appliance. The good news is
the majority of snorers do no suffer sleep apnea and surgery is
not indicated. The way the dental
 appliance
works is that it opens the air way by moving the lower jaw
forward. The appliance is $295 via email. In the office it is
$900. We send you special impression trays and putty for you to
take an impression of your own teeth. You send the impressions
back to us in a self addressed stamped mailer and in 10 to 14
days you will get your appliance. You must take the sleep apnea
quiz.
Sleep Apnea Quiz:
Answer
true or false if it is sometimes true then consider the answer
to be true.
- Do you snore
loudly? OK you may have to ask someone that you sleep with.
- Are you tired
in the morning?
- Do you suffer
from headaches in the morning?
- Are you sleepy
during the day or become sleepy in the afternoon?
- Do you stop
breathing during sleep and does it sound like you gasp for air
from time to time? Ask your mate.
- Are you grossly
overweight and snore?
If you answered
true to 2 through 6, then you definitely need an examination by
a sleep specialist. Your MD can recommend one. The noisy
question is more difficult to interpret.
A. Do you feel jaw
joint pain or stiffness?
B. Do you grind or clench your teeth.
C. Do you have TMJ
syndrome?
If you answer true to any of A, B, or C then your TMJ problem
must be addressed before you have a dental appliance for your
snoring problem.
A dental appliance
is available to help with your snoring if it is not severe sleep
apnea. Even with severe sleep apnea Silent Nite may be a good
idea based on the sleep specialist's recommendation. The
advantage of the appliance is it is non invasive compared to
surgery. It is more affordable than surgery and besides surgery
does not always work. Click the nose to learn more about the
Silent Nite appliance. |
