Snoring & Sleep Apnea Prevention

While snoring is a common problem for many people, it can also be a sign of other major health complications. It is estimated that more than 80 million people in North America snore while sleeping, which not only affects the quality of sleep of the person snoring, but also the quality of sleep of their loved ones and other family members. Luckily, there is a way to treat chronic snoring.

What causes snoring?

Snoring can be the result of several factors. Typically, snoring is caused by relaxing of the muscles and soft tissues in the throat and mouth, making the airway passage smaller. The decrease in space through the airway makes it harder for each breath to get through. When it does get through the airway passage, it moves over the soft tissues in the mouth and throat and causes a vibration, resulting in the snoring sound. Causes of snoring may include:

Mandibular Advancement Device (MAD)

If you snore at night, then a mandibular advancement device may be a solution for a better sleep! The MAD is a specially designed dental device that gently helps keep the lower jaw, or mandible, in a forward position, increasing the space between the airway passages and helping you breathe better so you can get a full, quiet night’s sleep.

Some devices also stop the tongue from falling back over your windpipe. Your dentist will fit these special appliances to meet your individual needs.

A mandibular advancement device is comfortable, so that you can sleep without noticing you are wearing it. It does not prevent you from breathing with your mouth open and will even eliminate snoring for patients with sinus congestion or allergies. You may experience some slight stiffness of the jaw for the first few mornings after wearing the device, but this feeling is only temporary, and will go away after waking up and removing the device.

To learn more about a mandibular advancement device, contact our practice and schedule an appointment and consultation.

Nightlase™

Fotona`s Nightlase therapy is a non-invasive patient-friendly laser treatment that increases the quality of sleep. It is an alternative to CPAP or Oral appliances. Nightlase reduces the effects of sleep apnea and decreases the amplitude of snoring by a laser-induced tightening effect caused by the contraction of collagen in the oral mucosa. It consists of three 20-minute sessions over a 2-month period. There is no anaesthesia, needles, or post-operative pain and there are immediate results after the first treatment.