Okay, I snore, so what? Well, while you might think snoring isn’t something to be concerned about, you might want to think again. Frequent, loud snoring may be a sign of sleep apnea, which is a common and potentially serious disorder in which breathing stops and starts as you sleep. Being able to distinguish between snoring and sleep apnea is important so that you can get the best treatment available without waiting any longer.
The American Sleep Disorder Association endorsed oral appliance therapy as the third currently acceptable treatment modality for snoring and sleep apnea. Currently, the largest number of patients who suffer from sleep apnea are in the mild to moderate categories and should be treated with oral appliances. Despite the fact that treatment with the CPAP machine is extremely successful, there are a number of patients who cannot or choose not to wear the face mask with the attached air compressor.
For these patients, oral appliances provided by a dentist trained in dental sleep medicine are proving to be an excellent treatment option. There are three types of oral appliances currently available for the treatment of sleep apnea:
To find out more about oral appliance therapy and how your dentist can help in treatment of snoring and sleep apnea, contact Dr. Bonnie Foster today and rest easy knowing there is relief from sleep apnea.