Breathing interruption and chronic snoring are hallmark symptoms of a sleep apnea problem. At first this might just manifest as sleep quality problem and a nuisance to your spouse. Yet when sleep apnea goes unaddressed these respiratory issues can lead to worsening medical complications.
As time goes on the breathing interruption that occurs on a nightly basis could start to stress your heart muscle. This could increase your chances of suffering problems with high blood pressure, heart disease and risk of stroke.
It’s important to have the severity of your sleep apnea professionally diagnosed by a physician. This will influence the most effective treatment strategy. Patients who suffer from severe sleep apnea will likely need to sleep with a positive air pressure device such as a CPAP machine.
Yet patients with mild to moderate sleep apnea may find significant symptom relief from a prescription snore guard provided by an orthodontist like Dr. Stan Scalf. Here at Stan Scalf DMD we offer several different options depending on the specifics of your mouth, and your personal preference.
Tongue stabilizing devices are often preferable for denture wearers as the dental appliance doesn’t need to attach to your teeth.
Mandibular advance devices are available in varying designs. Most attach to your teeth in some way and many also include a stabilizing hinge. They are designed to hold your soft palate in the ideal position to allow easy passage of air. This will thus reducing snoring problems and issues associated with breathing interruption.
Boil and bite snore guards use a special thermoplastic material that softens when heated in water. When it’s ready you bite down firmly on the material and it conforms to the shape of your mouth. The snore guard material will then conform to the unique shape of your teeth before it hardens.
If you live in the Georgetown, Kentucky area and you’re suffering with mild to moderate sleep apnea, you should call 502-863-9340 to explore your snore guard options available at Stan Scalf DMD.