Sleep Apnea and Snoring
Is your snoring keeping you or someone you love up at night? You may have a sleep breathing disorder such as sleep apnea. If so, your own rest is being affected too. At Park Family and Cosmetic Dentistry, we offer non-surgical treatment for sleep-disordered breathing so that you and your loved ones can get the rest you need to feel your best.
Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
You may have sleep apnea if you experience the following symptoms:
- Snoring
- Waking up startled or gasping for air
- Excessive tiredness upon awakening
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a condition in which your airways become intermittently blocked for periods of time while you sleep due to the relaxation of your tongue and the soft tissues in your mouth. Not only do you snore, but the repeated blocking of your airway actually keeps you from getting the deep and restful sleep you need. You wake up still tired and may actually tend to fall asleep at times during the day.
One recommendation is what is called a CPAP machine. With a CPAP, you wear a mask over your mouth and it keeps pressure on your mouth to keep your airway open during the night. But a CPAP is uncomfortable and takes some getting used to.
A simpler way is to provide you with what is called a mandibular advancement appliance.
The diagrams below illustrate how this works. The first image shows the back of the tongue partially blocking your airway. This would produce snoring. The second image shows the airway completely blocked, which is what occurs with sleep apnea. The third image shows what happens when the mandible is moved forward – the airway is kept open.
Our Non-Surgical Treatment Solution
The image on the right shows one type of mandibular advancement appliance that can be very effective for snoring or mild to moderate sleep apnea. Dr. Mat Mouritsen is our general dentist who is experienced with airway prosthodontics. To get started with treatment, he will see you for a comprehensive dental exam. At this time, we’ll take digital impressions of your teeth to create a custom-fitted appliance for you.
When your appliance is ready, Dr. Mouritsen will see you for a follow-up visit to check the fit of your device and adjust it as needed. We’ll send you home with your appliance that day so that you can begin experiencing a restful night right away! To use it, simply place it in your mouth when you go to bed each night.
When you’re ready to take the first step toward better rest, give us a call at (239) 206-1500 to schedule your exam. If you prefer, you can also request an appointment online, and we’ll call you to get you scheduled.
