Sleep Apnea/ Snoring Appliances

Sleep apnea is a condition where the soft tissue collapse and block the airway due to your muscles becoming overly relaxed during sleep. This results in you not breathing, lasting anywhere from several seconds to a minute (or more).

If left untreated, sleep apnea can be dangerous, and even life-threatening in some cases.

Symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea

• Loud snoring
• Gasping for air during sleep
• Difficulty staying asleep
• Excessive daytime sleepiness or tiredness
• Episodes where someone has noticed you stopped breathing during sleep

Risk Factors associated with Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea can affect anyone, even children. But certain factors increase your risk. Factors that can increase the risk of sleep apnea include:

• Obesity greatly increases the risk of sleep apnea.
• People with larger neck circumference usually have narrower airways.
• You might also have inherited a narrow throat. Tonsils or adenoids also can enlarge and block the airway, particularly in children.
• Relaxants such as alcohol or drugs relaxing throat muscles
• Sleep apnea occurs significantly more often in older adults.
• Having family members with sleep apnea might increase your risk.
• Men are two to three times more likely to have sleep apnea than are women. However, women increase their risk if they're overweight, and their risk also appears to rise after menopause.

Specially made dental appliances called mandibular advancement splints, which advance the lower jaw slightly and thereby pull the tongue forward, are a common mode of treatment for snoring. Such appliances have been proven to be effective in reducing snoring and sleep apnea in cases where the apnea is mild to moderate. Mandibular advancement splints are often tolerated much better than CPAP machines. Possible but rare side effects include gradual movement of the teeth, temporomandibular joint disorder, excess salivation and gum irritation.

If you, or someone you know, struggle with snoring, excessive daytime sleepiness, memory problems, irritability, fatigue, and insomnia, it may be time to consult an expert to explore whether the culprit is obstructive sleep apnea.

If you've been diagnosed with sleep apnea, Crossing Bridge Family Dentistry in Stittsville welcomes your call to explore creating a custom guard to help treat your condition.

1. Welcome
2. Dental Services
3. Sleep Apnea/ Snoring Appliances