Snoring and sleep apnea

Snoring

Has your partner complained about your snoring? Did you know that snoring is frequently associated with sleep apnea - a dangerous sleep disorder that can take away years of your life? Snoring is more than an inconvenience for your partner, it’s a life threat.

What is snoring?

During our sleep our voluntary muscles relax. That includes our tongue, palate and other muscles in our throat. That results in a reduction of vital airway space. When that space is becomes small enough, the tissues start vibrating while the air passes through. It’s the first sign that the airflow is impaired. When that spaces becomes completely closed, an apnea event starts and the vital supply of oxygen to our body stops.

Sleep apnea signs and symptoms

Do you experience any of the following:

• Difficulty waking up
• Difficulty staying awake
• Commonly falling asleep while reading or watching a movie
• Difficulty concentrating
• Waking up at night gasping for air

You might be suffering of sleep apnea and you should seek help. Please call us and schedule a complimentary appointment and let us help you get a better night’s sleep and add healthy years to your life.

Treatment options for snoring and sleep apnea

First we need to ascertain the type of sleep disorder you might suffering from. All of our patients are routinely screened for snoring and sleep apnea. In London, Ontario, you will need a family doctor referral to the sleep clinic where a proper sleep study will be conducted. The sleep doctor will determine the type and severity of the sleep disorder you might have and will recommend the appropriate course of action. The main goal will be to restore the patency of the airway and improve the blood oxygenation level. There are several ways to do achieve that  including a dental appliance.

The CPAP machine is still the gold standard for treatment of sleep apnea. It consist of an air compressor that forces air into the lungs when securely connected to the mouth and/or nose. Unfortunately, the size and the noise of the machine makes it difficult to sleep with. Statistically, only 30% of patients that acquired a the CPAP machine actually use it.

“CPAP intolerance”

Recent research showed that mandibular advancement appliances (MAD) have the same benefits comparing with CPAP but with a much better compliance from the patients. It is a night time appliance that moves your mandible slightly forward and thus moves your tongue away, opening the airways and allowing for proper oxygenation of your brain. It basically employes the same principles used in and emergency CPR (chin forward)

In our office we use an advanced version of the classical sleep appliance produced by Somnodent®. It has a slimmer design allowing for maximum tongue space and comfort and it is produced with great care and respect of the physiological neuromuscular principles. This ensures that you will benefit not only from a forward positioning of the tongue but also from the relaxation of the neck area muscles, aligning your cervical vertebrae which will result in a larger breathing space.

If you are interested to find more about the oral appliance and how it will benefit you please contact our office for a complimentary consultation with Dr Tetelbaum.