Snoring and Sleep Apnea can have an impact on your daily life, your relationship and your health. These conditions may be treated effectively without the need for a mask or surgical procedures. White Family Dental can help with both conditions at any of our five Lancaster County locations.
What Causes Snoring?
Snoring is caused by soft tissue in the throat relaxing and restricting the airway during sleep. As air pushes past the relaxed tissue, vibration occurs and causes the noise we hear. It’s not unlike the effect of a reed in a musical instrument like a Clarinet or Saxophone.
What is Sleep Apnea?
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a condition caused by soft tissue of the throat blocking the airway during sleep. When the airway is blocked, the person is unable to breathe for brief periods of time, until the body reacts enough to open the airway. This can lead to serious medical issues in addition to poor sleep.
What are the Symptoms of Sleep Apnea?
- Heavy snoring
- Moments where breathing stops during sleep-this usually noticed by a partner
- Feeling like you didn’t get a good night’s sleep
- Drowsiness or fatigue
- Morning headaches
- Waking abruptly through the night
- Irritability
- Memory loss
- Insomnia
- Poor concentration
- Lower productivity
- Waking with a dry mouth or sore throat
How Can Sleep Apnea Cause Health Problems?
When someone’s airway is blocked and they stop breathing, it reduces oxygen levels in the bloodstream, which causes the heart to work harder. This can lead to a number of conditions including:
- High Blood Pressure
- Heart Disease
- Stroke
- Diabetes
- Acid Reflux
How Can a Dentist Help with Sleep Apnea?
The dentists at 
White Family Dental are scientists of the mouth, which includes a thorough knowledge of the alignment of the jaw. This is important for the alignment and function of teeth, but everything in our bodies work as a system. If the jaw is too relaxed while you sleep, that may be the cause of sleep apnea. The same science that corrects a person’s bite applies to the position of your jaw while you sleep. We can make custom mouthpieces-oral appliances- that will keep the jaw in its proper place during sleep. This can treat both snoring and Sleep Apnea, and our custom oral appliances are far more comfortable and convenient than a CPAP mask.
Would you like to improve your sleep by treating snoring or Sleep Apnea without the use of a mask at night? We may be able to help. Call us today for an appointment. When you come in, we’ll complete an evaluation of your jaw alignment and provide the best advice for you to decide upon a treatment option. Then the two of you can sleep on it.
The Benefits of Oral Appliances for Sleep Apnea and Snoring
Our core principle is to treat the whole person first. We are focused on helping you to live a happier and healthier life. An important part of that happiness is sleeping well in the same bed with the one you love. Snoring, Sleep Apnea and sometimes even the CPAP masks can be an obstacle to that happiness. Oral appliances are quiet, easy to clean and they don’t obstruct comfortable sleeping positions for you and the one you love so that both of you can get the sleep you deserve.
Call us today.
Do you or your partner still have questions about treating Sleep Apnea and snoring?
Call today and we’ll sit down with both of you.
