Snoring & Sleep Apnea Treatment
Nowak Family Dental provides treatment for snoring and sleep apnea in Melrose, MA. Call 781-662-9119 to learn more and schedule your appointment.
Snoring and sleep apnea don’t just keep you from getting a good night’s sleep—they can also impact your overall health. Dentists have specialized training in treating both of these issues using oral appliance therapy, which repositions the lower jaw and tongue while you sleep.
Snoring
Snoring disrupts airflow and causes the soft palate and tissues in the throat to vibrate—as the uvula vibrates when you inhale, it creates the snoring sound. Caused by a narrowing or blocking of the airway, the narrower your airway becomes, the louder your snoring will be.
While snoring can disrupt the sleep of those around you, it can also disrupt your own sleep. You may find that you have excessive daytime fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and headaches.
Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition in which a patient’s breathing becomes shallow or pauses altogether when they are sleeping. Sometimes, you may wake up gasping for air when this occurs, but often, you’re jolted out of a deep sleep and don’t have any recollection of it happening. This can make sleep apnea difficult to diagnose. The poor quality of your sleep causes exhaustion, trouble focusing, and headaches. Left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to mood disorders, high blood pressure, and other serious health issues.
Mild sleep apnea can be treated with lifestyle changes, including losing weight and changing your sleep position, or by wearing an oral appliance to maintain an open airway during sleep.
Oral Appliance Therapy
Oral appliance therapy can be used for both snoring and sleep apnea. Many of our patients have found significant relief with these simple appliances, which adjust the position of the lower jaw and tongue to keep your airway open and unobstructed.
Our office can design a customized Mandibular Advancement Device for you to wear while you sleep. Once you begin using one of these oral appliances, we’ll ask that you bring it with you to your comprehensive oral evaluation appointments so we can make sure that it continues to fit properly.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sleep Apnea and Snoring
What are the warning signs of sleep apnea?
The warning signs of sleep apnea include fatigue, loud snoring, waking up with a dry mouth, sore throat, or headache, and difficulty concentrating during the day.
How can I treat sleep apnea without a CPAP machine?
CPAP therapy is not the only solution for sleep apnea. Many patients with mild sleep apnea have success with oral appliance therapy, which keeps their airway open and unobstructed without the need for a cumbersome CPAP machine.
Does snoring mean I have sleep apnea?
While snoring is a sign of sleep apnea, not everyone who snores has sleep apnea. If you don’t experience any of the other symptoms of sleep apnea, it’s unlikely that you have it. The benefit of oral appliance therapy is that it can be used to treat both snoring and sleep apnea.
What happens if sleep apnea is left untreated?
Untreated sleep apnea can increase your risk of mood disorders, high blood pressure, stroke, heart failure, and other cardiovascular events.
What causes snoring?
Snoring can be caused by your weight, sinus issues, allergies, alcohol consumption, or having a cold.
Call 781-662-9119 to schedule your appointment.