You might not think that you need a dentist for snoring, but the National Sleep Foundation states that about 30 to 50 percent of people in the U.S. snore throughout their lives. In most cases, this snoring is a symptom of sleep apnea and other health issues.
The intensity and frequency of a patient's snoring is often an indicator of whether the person is dealing with an obstructive issue or a severe and life-threatening condition. Sleep apnea can lead to shallow breathing or even stop the patient from breathing completely. When this occurs, it is crucial to contact a dentist for snoring as soon as possible.
The sounds associated with snoring are caused by the vibration of the tissues in the throat and nose. The vibrations are caused by an obstruction of the airways that makes it more difficult for the patient to breath.
While sleep apnea is one of the leading causes of snoring, it can also be caused by other things like being pregnant, nasal congestion, allergies, being overweight or drinking alcohol.
Sleep apnea often leads to a variety of issues like:
An oral appliance is often used to treat snoring that is caused by sleep apnea. This involves the use of oral devices that are designed to help keep the patient's airways open. More severe cases can be treated with the use of a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Device (CPAP). This is a machine that comes with a mask the patient wears when they go to sleep. The machine feeds the patient with pressurized air that keeps the throat open as the person sleeps.
Addressing snoring caused by sleep apnea helps to improve the patient's concentration, emotional state, and daytime awareness. Oral appliances are used for cases where the patient has a tongue that falls back on the airways during sleep or a narrow passageway.
The device used helps to stabilize the tongue and realign the jaw. This enlarges the airways and prevents the tongue from restricting the flow of air through the respiratory system.
Oral appliance therapy is popular with patients due to some of the benefits it has over CPAP treatments. The devices are comfortable to wear, they do not create any noise, and they can be easily transported from place to place.
Getting a customized oral appliance made is a non-invasive procedure that has a good track record of success. In some instances, it can eliminate the need for surgery and prevent the need for a bulky CPAP machine and the stringent compliance requirements these devices come with.
Ever been told you snore regularly? Schedule a consultation with one of our dentists and explore your options.
Request a dental appointment here: https://ismiledentalcarenj.com or call iSmile Dental Care at (908) 768-3057 for an appointment in our Union dental office.
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