Snoring can be a problem for a partner! We can make you an appliance which is worn over the upper and lower teeth, these are connected together and this has the benefit of pulling the lower jaw forward relieving the airway obstruction which causes the snoring.
See Below for more information regarding snoring.
We are a registered fitting practice trained in the use of the THERASNORE anti-snoring device.
While snoring itself may be harmless, it can also develop into, or be a symptom of, a more serious medical condition known as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
Snoring is caused by a narrow airway. That's because air travels faster through a slender tube than through a broad one. This rapidly moving air causes the soft tissues of the throat (the tonsils, soft palate, and uvula) to vibrate. It is this vibration which is the sound of snoring. It's like putting a flag in front of a fan: the faster the fan, the greater the flutter.
Why is the airway narrow in snorers? Many things can take up space in the airway reducing its diameter. These can include large tonsils, a long soft palate or uvula, and, in people who are overweight, excessively flabby tissue. The most common cause of a narrow airway is a tongue that relaxes too much during sleep and gets sucked back into the airway with each breath taken.
When the tongue is sucked completely against the back of the throat, the airway is blocked and breathing stops. Once that happens, the harder the sleeper tries to breathe, the tighter the airway seal becomes. It's like trying to drink through a straw that's stuck in a lump of ice cream. The harder you suck, the flatter the straw becomes.
The airway obstruction won't clear until the brain's oxygen level falls low enough to partially awaken the sleeper. The tongue then returns to a more normal position, and the airway seal is broken -- usually with a loud gasp.
Mild or occasional snoring and symptoms of OSA may be alleviated by lifestyle changes: losing excess weight; getting regular exercise and within three hours of bedtime avoiding alcohol, heavy meals, and medications that make you drowsy.
When symptoms are more severe, and these measures don't resolve the problem, other treatment options may include:
A dental appliance is a small plastic device, similar to an orthodontic retainer or a athletic mouthguard. It is worn in the mouth during sleep to prevent the soft throat tissues from collapsing and obstructing the airway. Dentists with training in dental appliance therapy can design, construct, and fit these special appliances to meet their patient's individual situations and conditions.
In recent clinical studies, physicians and dentists have found that, in a majority of patients, a well-made, well-fitted dental appliance will effectively reduce or eliminate snoring, and significantly relieve symptoms of mild and moderate OSA.
Dental appliances work in three ways: by bringing the lower jaw forward, by holding the tongue forward, and by lifting a drooping soft palate. A combination appliance may perform two or more of these functions at the same time. Dental appliance therapy is not a new idea. It was in use as far back as the early 1900s. But it was not until the 1980s that physicians and dentists began to work together to study and develop this alternative form of treatment, enabling more patients to benefit from it.
Dental appliance therapy offers many advantages:
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