Sleep Apnea/Snoring Appliances
Designed for patients with obstructive sleep apnea or snoring during the night, these dental appliances prevent the tongue from blocking the throat. These devices help keep the airway open during sleep in the most comfortable manner possible so that you and your partner can get a peaceful night’s rest.
Appliances for Peaceful Nights
Sleep apnea is a potentially serious sleeping disorder which can affect adults and children alike. While a sleeping expert can diagnose it, it is an orthodontic team who assists in treatment plans to improve breathing, positioning, and growth trajectory.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you or a loved one are suffering from sleep apnea or can’t get a good night’s rest due to their snoring, we are happy to answer all your questions. Most people are unaware of the health risks of sleep apnea or how their soring affects others. At Claremont Orthodontics, our goal is to help you, your family, friends and anyone you may know who struggles to get a good night’s rest.
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a sleeping disorder where breathing will repeatedly stop and start again during sleep; it affects adults and children alike. The root cause of this airway disorder can be impacted by nasal obstruction as well as jaw impediment. When left untreated, it can raise health risks including high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, diabetes and increased risk of death.
How Is Sleep Apnea Diagnosed?
Sleep apnea is diagnosed when a doctor who is also a sleep specialist conducts a sleep evaluation. A sleep evaluation is done at either a sleep center or in the patient’s home, where a patient is monitored throughout the night and data is recorded. The data from this evaluation will both confirm the diagnosis and determine the severity of diagnosis for an orthodontic team to treat.
What Causes Snoring?
Snoring can be caused by a number of factors, such as the anatomy of your mouth and sinuses, alcohol consumption, allergies, a cold, and your weight.
When you doze off and progress from a light sleep to a deep sleep, the muscles in the roof of your mouth (soft palate), tongue and throat relax. The tissues in your throat can relax enough that they partially block your airway and vibrate.
The more narrowed your airway, the more forceful the airflow becomes. This increases tissue vibration, which causes your snoring to grow louder.
What Are The Symptoms Of Sleep Apnea?
As children physically develop, factors like allergies, asthma, deviated septum and tethered tongues can create mouth-breathing issues. Chronic mouth breathing can lead to poor sleep quality, negative impact to neurocognitive development and even affect how the upper and lower jaws grow. When adults develop sleep apnea, symptoms can include headaches, excessive daytime fatigue and even potential memory loss.
How Do Sleep Apnea/Snoring Appliances Work?
Sleep apnea/snoring appliances help keep a person’s airway open as they sleep. These appliances are usually prescribed by an orthodontist or a sleep specialist.
What Are the Dangers Of Not Treating My Snoring?
Habitual snoring may be more than just a nuisance. Aside from disrupting a bed partner’s sleep, you may be at risk for other complications, including:
- Daytime sleepiness
- Frequent frustration or anger
- Difficulty concentrating
- A greater risk of high blood pressure, heart conditions and stroke
- An increased risk of behaviour problems, such as aggression or learning problems, in children with OSA
- An increased risk of motor vehicle accidents due to lack of sleep
If we haven’t answered all your questions in these sleep apnea/snoring appliances FAQs, we’re happy to answer them during a consultation at our orthodontic practice. If you would like to learn more about sleep apnea or snoring, please call us at (021) 671 0171 or email us at info@claremontorthodontics.co.za to book an appointment today.