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Sleep Apnea and Snore Guards

DSP-4959Sleep well and wake refreshed

Because sleep apnea happens when you’re sleeping, you might not even know you have it. It is a common problem in which your breathing comes to a complete stop, sometimes hundreds of times during the night, and often for a minute or longer. With each apnea event, the brain briefly rouses you in order for you to resume breathing, which breaks up your sleep and keeps you from feeling really rested.

What are the signs of sleep apnea?

  • Snoring with intermittent pauses or loud snoring
  • Excessive daytime sleepiness
  • Nighttime awakenings
  • Gasping and choking
  • Poor memory and clouded intellect
  • Personality changes
  • Decreased sex drive or impotence
  • Morning headaches
  • Weight gain
  • Diabetes
  • Increased risk for hypertension (high blood pressure) and heart attack
  • Congestive heart failure
  • Stroke
  • Increased risk for falling asleep while driving

A simple, nonsurgical solution

When the tongue causes restriction of the upper airway and blocks the airflow, it is called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). A similar problem causes snoring when the muscles and soft tissue in the throat relax, making the breathing airway smaller. A relaxed or collapsed airway produces soft tissue vibrations that make the sound of “sawing wood.”

A snore guard is a custom-fit plastic mouthpiece similar to a sports mouth guard or orthodontic retainer. It keeps the upper and lower jaw in place when the throat relaxes during sleep. This allows the air passage to remain open, which provides deep, relaxing sleep.

By creating the right custom device, Robinwood Dental can often help sleep apnea sufferers eliminate the need for a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure machine (CPAP). We use an Apnea Risk Evaluation System that allows you to have your sleep monitored in the comfort of your own bed! In most cases you won’t need to stay at a sleep clinic for an evaluation.

Advantages of Oral Appliances

  • Oral appliances are comfortable and easy to wear. Most people find that it takes only a couple of weeks to become acclimated to wearing the appliance.
  • Oral appliances are small and convenient, making them easy to carry when traveling.
  • Treatment with oral appliances is noninvasive.

Custom-made oral appliances are proven to be more effective than over-the-counter devices, which are not recommended as a therapeutic option.

Let our dentists help you with a snoring problem or sleep apnea diagnosis. They are trained in oral appliance therapy and are familiar with the various designs. They will recommend the approach that is best suited for your specific needs.

Call today at 240.313.9660 to schedule an assessment and determine if you could benefit from a snore guard or sleep apnea appliance.

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