Sleep Apnea and Snore Treatment

Snoring is a common breathing disorder that occurs during sleep and is generally considered to be simply a nuisance. Snoring, however, can be associated with more serious condition known as obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). It is characterized by repeated stoppages in breathing, each lasting seconds or longer. OSA has been associated with daytime sleepiness, hypertension, and cardiac arrhythmias.

Diagnosis:
The presence or absence of obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), must be determined before initiating treatment with oral appliances to identify those patients at risk due to complications of sleep apnea and to provide a baseline to establish the effectiveness of subsequent treatment.

Treatment:
In recent years, dental appliances have been used to treat snoring or mild to moderate sleep apnea. Most of these appliances reposition the mandible forward and slightly open the vertical dimension to keep the airways space open during sleep. While several types of appliances appear to be effective, it is important to select one that is comfortable, promoting patient compliance and precisely fabricated so that pre-existing TMJ problems are not aggravated.

For any questions or to make an appointment, please contact our office by calling 703.931.4544, or use our contact page.

Back to Dental Treatments