Usually, when a patient comes in for a sleep appliance, it’s because their sleeping partner has complained about snoring. Many people don’t realize that a dentist can help people who snore. Dr. Sahar Zare can help patients who snore by creating a sleep appliance known as a snore guard.
About Snoring and Sleep Apnea
There can be many factors that contribute to snoring, such as excess weight, age, and compromised airway space, for example, polyps, infection, or allergies.
For some patients, snoring can be a sign of Sleep Apnea, a potentially dangerous medical condition where the snorer actually stops breathing for several seconds – up to two minutes. This results in decreased oxygen in the blood, which can lead to headaches, fatigue, and, in rare instances, sudden death. Patients with sleep apnea usually don’t know they have sleep apnea until they visit a specialist and receive the appropriate diagnosis. If you are experiencing symptoms associated with sleep apnea, it is imperative that you visit a professional as soon as possible. If left untreated, sleep apnea can have adverse effects on your overall health.
Snoring Treatment
To treat snoring, we at Luminous Smile can fabricate a customized, removable oral appliance, similar to orthodontic retainers or sports mouth-guards. A snore appliance is worn while a person sleeps to prevent the movement of the tongue to the back of the throat.
Most patients will snore less and often complete elimination of snoring with the use of the snore appliance.
Sleep Apnea Treatment
A sleep apnea appliance will open up the airway space and advance the tongue forward. Our office can fabricate this appliance for you if you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea. In most cases, an oral sleep appliance is the preferred treatment to CPAP and/or laser surgery. After a full consultation, we can recommend the most suitable treatment plan or your condition.