Snoreguards & Sleep Apnea Therapy
If you snore at night, you know what a nuisance it can be to your friends and loved ones, but snoring may also be a sign of a more serious problem. Sleep apnea is a fairly common sleep-breathing disorder in which the person stops breathing for ten seconds or longer repeatedly during sleep. It can affect anyone at any age, even children. Systemic health conditions such as heart disease can develop from this disorder, so it’s important to receive an accurate diagnosis. Dr. Clark can fabricate a custom oral appliance to help eliminate snoring and treat mild to moderate sleep apnea.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common form of sleep apnea. It results when the airways in the back of the throat are blocked by the tongue or soft tissues. The air forces its way through, causing noisy vibrations, otherwise known as snoring. OSA can result from a poorly positioned tongue or jaw or excessive throat tissue. In more extreme cases, snoring can be interrupted with a period of silence in which no air passes into the lungs. The lack of oxygen to the brain can cause a variety of symptoms listed below. In most cases, OSA can be treated with a custom snoreguard only available from a dentist.
Symptoms of sleep apnea include:
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Heart Failure
- Coronary Occlusion
- Stroke
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- EDD
- Depression
- Snoring
- Irritability
- Daytime drowsiness
- Inability to focus for long periods of time (Attention Deficit Disorder)
- Gasping for breath at night
- Waking repeatedly during sleep
Snoring and sleep apnea is also disruptive to marriages and cause sleepless nights for bed partners. Some devices, such as the CPAP, can be very cumbersome and noisy and result in noncompliance. A snore guard, which goes into the mouth like an athletic guard and is more comfortable, will likely increase compliance and be more effective.
An Appointment You Won’t Want to Miss!
Dr. Jeffrey D. Clark’s dental office is convenient to residents of Scottsdale, Phoenix, Cave Creek, Carefree, Paradise Valley, Fountain Hills, and beyond. Call us today to reserve your FREE consultation and discover the life-changing benefits of a confident, healthy smile.