Do you suffer from snoring?
The answer may be yes if you:
- Disturb your partner’s sleep
- Feel tired during the day
- Wake up gasping for air
- Have nighttime reflux
- Have morning headaches
- Suffer from high blood pressure
- Fall asleep at inappropriate times
- Frequently visit the toilet at night
What causes snoring?
During sleep, muscles and soft tissues in the throat and mouth relax. As a result, the airway space during sleep is narrower than the airway space when awake. Since the airway is narrower, the velocity of airflow during breathing is increased, the soft tissues in the throat, such as the soft palate and uvula vibrate, and these vibrations result in “noisy breathing” or snoring.
The dangers of snoring
It is estimated that more than 90 million Americans snore. Taking into account the snorer’s spouse and children, as many as 160 million people are negatively affected by snoring.
Snoring not only interrupts the sleep cycle: the struggle for breath can result in soaring blood pressure, which can damage the walls of the carotid arteries and increase the risk of stroke. Studies have shown that loud snorers are 10 times more likely to have atherosclerosis than non-snorers.
Snoring involves blockage of the airway space by the soft tissues in the mouth and throat and by the tongue. If this blockage is complete, and this period of asphyxiation lasts for more than 10 seconds, it is called Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), a medical condition with serious long-term effects.
Where does dentistry come into the snoring picture?
There are many methods used to minimize or eliminate snoring.
Surgical techniques have been used to remove respiration-blocking structures, but have shown only moderate success.
The CPAP machine (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) requires the snorer to wear a mask over the face or nose during sleep. The machine, placed at bedside, blows pressurised air into the mask to help keep the airway open during sleep. However, most people do not like having to carry the machine with them and wearing a mask with a tubing every night.
At Pearl Dental Center, we can offer you the most affordable, non-invasive, comfortable and effective solution for snoring. We can make you a custom-fabricated dental device that moves the lower jaw into a forward position, increasing space in the airway tube and reducing air velocity and soft tissue vibration. The fit is excellent and comfortable and allows uninhibited oral breathing.
Some of the appliances we have for snoring and sleep apnea are:
1) aveoTSD, a simple, effective treatment for snoring:
This device, made of soft, high-grade, medical silicone, comes ready-made, and is worn by the patient over the tongue. This holds the tongue gently forward, preventing it from falling back and blocking the airway. As a result the airway is now open and clear, stopping or greatly reducing snoring.
2) Silent Nite Slide-Link:
The Silent Nite Slide-Link solves the snoring problem by positioning the lower jaw forwards during sleep, thereby increasing spave in the airway tube, reducing air velocity of airflow into thye mouth during breathing and decreasing the vibrations of the soft tissues such as the uvula and the soft palate.
From moulds we take in your mouth, we make models, and on them we make custom-fabricated transparent upper and lower forms that fit snugly and comfortably on your teeth. Special Slide-Link connectors are attached to these tooth forms and hold the lower jaw forwards, reducing of stopping snoring.
3) EMA
4) TAP 3 Elite
Both the EMA and TAP 3 Elite are also custom-fabricated devices for snoring and OSA and are variations of and work on the same principle as the Silent Nite Slide-Link, namely they help position the lower jaw forwards, opening up the airway and reduce air velocity and vibration of the soft palate and uvula. We have to take molds of your teeth and the laboratory will fabricate the appliance.
At Pearl Dental Arts, we offer many different options for snoring and sleep apnea at all of our locations, in Newtown, Levittown and Philadelphia. Dr. Paghdiwala and his associates have been providing the kind od devices listed above for some time. You can set up an immediate appointment for a free consultation to evaluate what option is best suited for you. Call us at 1-888-PEARL81 or go to www.pearldentalarts.com/contact-us/ to request an appointment. You can also book your appointment online.