Gene Sherman, D.D.S
Snoring can be an indication of sleep apnea, a more serious condition that actually blocks the airway during sleep, cutting off the flow of breath and causing the body to respond by waking to self protect. The sufferer often goes through episodes of snoring, breath stopping, gasping for air, waking, then falling back to sleep and back into cycle for anywhere from a few times a night to dozens of times an hour.
Causes
Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the soft tissue at the back of the mouth and the tongue completely collapse into and blocks the airway during sleep. Several factors can put you at risk for developing OSA: being overweight, sinus trouble and/or allergies, large tonsils, lung disease, heart failure, sedating medicines and alcohol, endocrine or hormonal disorders, teeth grinding (bruxism), Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), menopause, male gender, and smoking.
Impact
Daytime sleepiness, falling asleep while watching television or driving, impaired concentration and loss of productivity, are some of the effects of insufficient sleep. Of additional concern is the increased risk of diseases such as high blood pressure, heart problems, and stroke as well as the psychological impact of insufficient sleep. Click here for a more comprehensive list.
Treatment Options
Diagnosis If your sleep or that of your sleep partner is disturbed by your snoring, a sleep study can monitor various physiological functions during an overnight stay in a sleep clinic or in a hospital. It can determine if you are suffering from snoring or sleep apnea and a course of treatment can then be created.
Start simple - try sleeping on your side. If you can’t easily adjust to sleeping on your side, we offer a sleep cushion that is a low cost, adjustable option designed to retrain the wearer to sleep on their side. It has proven to be a viable option to reduce or alleviate positional related snoring or apnea.
CPAP Machine This is often prescribed as the primary treatment for people with obstructive sleep apnea. The device uses Continuous Positive Air Pressure (CPAP) that blows air through a flexible hose into a cushioned plastic mask that covers your nose. The air pressure keeps the air passage open during sleep. Unfortunately as many as 60% of patients who have been prescribed CPAP report they cannot tolerate them.
Oral appliance therapy - A safe, non-surgical solution
Oral appliances are small acrylic devices that fit over your teeth in a way that is similar to an orthodontic retainer or mouth guard. Worn during sleep, the appliance is designed to bring the lower jaw slightly forward, which in turn moves the base of the tongue and opens the airway. These devices are custom made to each patient by a dentist certified in dental sleep medicine and are often preferred as a less cumbersome or invasive option than CPAP. Appliances are usually very effective for treating people with snoring and mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea and often assist in treatment of severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
Surgery The most common surgical procedure for treating snoring is laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP). This surgery removes some of the soft palate and most of the uvula. The treatment must be performed by a qualified surgeon and may require and may require additional surgical procedures. It can be effective in reducing snoring but is considered less effective for treating people with moderate or severe obstructive sleep apnea.
Another surgical option is somnoplasty (radio frequency surgery). This surgical procedure is performed in the physician's office using local anesthesia and a customized electrode that delivers radio frequency energy to the tongue and/or soft palate. This treatment reduces snoring by creating scarring which decreases vibration of the tissues. However, like any surgery, there are always risks and complications.
285 Stonegate Road
Algonquin, Illinois 60102
847.658.3400 | care@drdentalcare.com
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About Sleep Apnea
Normal Breathing
When breathing is unobstructed, air flows easily and virtually soundlessly through the open airway at the back of the throat.
Sleep Apnea
Tissue at the back of the throat actually blocks the airway during sleep, cutting off the flow of breath and causing the body to respond by waking to self protect.
