Is Snoring Keeping You Up Nights?

We tell jokes about snoring often, but snoring is definitely no laughing matter.  Most commonly caused by a condition called Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), snoring can destroy your sleep, prevent a restful night and make it difficult to stay awake during the day.  In addition to disrupting your sleep patterns (and the sleep patterns of your partner), OSA can contribute to a number of serious health concerns including high blood pressure, stroke or heart attack and even depression.  

What Is OSA?

Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a medical condition in which the airway collapses and closes off during sleep.  As the muscles relax, they collapse upon each other making it difficult to breathe.  We often hear this as loud snoring.  In patients with OSA, the collapsed airway will often cause lengthy periods of not breathing at all (apnea).  When this occurs, it can be dangerous.  

How Can My Dentist Help Me Stop Snoring?

There are many treatment options available to help reduce the symptoms of OSA.  If you snore, you may have tried nose strips, special pillows, or any number of products intended to help curb snoring.  Medical treatments for OSA range from surgical procedure to the prescription of a special breathing mask to be worn during sleep called a C-PAP machine.  Patients report mixed results with all treatment options for OSA, but seem to find the C-PAP machine especially difficult to comply with due to it’s bulky design and noisy operation.  

Advancements in dental sleep medicine have provided other options for the treatment of OSA.  Using a small, custom designed oral appliance, many patients with mild to moderate OSA and snoring have found that their symptoms are far reduced or eliminated.  The oral device is designed specifically for your anatomy, and precisely repositions your jaw in order to maintain an open airway during sleep.  Patients who use the dental sleep apnea appliance report that they notice a significant reduction in sleep apnea symptoms, snoring and frequent waking. 

Is A Dental Sleep Apnea Device Right For Me?

If you are tired of being tired all the time, suffer with snoring or mild to moderate sleep apnea, then a dental sleep apnea device may be right for you.  Schedule a consultation with your Dallas dentist and discuss your options.  A sleep study will be conducted, results interpreted and a plan for treatment devised by Dr. Jack E. Burroughs.  If you can benefit from a dental snoring appliance, you will have custom impressions and models made to ensure a perfectly fitted, comfortable and precise appliance.  For more information about scheduling a snoring and sleep apnea consultation, contact Forest Lane Dental

The Problem With Snoring

Snoring sucks the life right out of your day.  If you suffer from snoring or obstructivesleep apnea (OSA), then you know exactly what I’m talking about.  When you snore or experience prolonged periods of not breathing (apnea) while you sleep, you actually experience many instances of waking during the night.  Frequent sleep interruptions prevent your body from engaging in deep, restful sleep.  In truth, you are not getting enough good quality sleep at night-and neither is your partner.

The effects of disrupted sleep have a profound effect on your lifestyle.  Waking tired, falling asleep easily during the day, drowsiness, headaches, mood disorders and even depression have been documented in sleep apnea patients.  More serious effects on overall heath are high blood pressure, increased risk for heart attack and stroke.  

What Can You Do To Stop Snoring?

That is the question Dr. Jack Burroughs asked himself several years ago when he began experiencing lack of quality sleep due to snoring and mild sleep apnea.  Using a C-PAP machine to force air into the airway is uncomfortable, bulky and difficult to comply with. 

Drawing on his experience as a dentist, he understood the physiological process that occurs with snoring; relaxation and laxity of the tissues and muscles supporting the airway.  He found his answer in the study and practice of dental sleep medicine.  Receiving training and certification in the practice of sleep dentistry from the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, Dr. Burroughs began offering dental sleep apnea appliances in his North Dallas dental office.  He tried the appliance himself first, and several years later, he is still reaping the benefits of quiet, restful sleep.

Customized oral appliances are specially designed to reposition the lower jaw during sleep.  The compact, anatomically matched appliance prevents the oral and pharyngeal soft tissues from relaxing back into the throat, causing obstruction.  The results are significant and most patients experience drastic results immediately.

 

One Patient’s Sleep Apnea Story

One patient of Dr. Burroughs describes his experience:

"About two years ago, I was diagnosed with mild apnea.  I was prescribed a CPAP machine.  I tried very hard to get used to the CPAP and did everything possible not to give up on it, but it did not work out.  Through Dr. Burroughs, I learned about another alternative to help my apnea, which was using a special mouthpiece.  I received the mouthpiece and have found that it works much better than the CPAP and it is nowhere near as intrusive and uncomfortable.  I am sleeping better now."
~ Jason, Patient

If you suffer from snoring or mild to moderate sleep apnea, a custom oral repositioning appliance may be the answer for you.  Give Dr. Burroughs a call to schedule aconsultation and get ready to say “goodbye” to C-PAP and “hello” to a good night’s sleep.