If your partner constantly nudges you to make you stop snoring, you might want to consider fitted oral appliances. A CPAP machine isn’t the only way to keep your airways open. Men and women regularly visit Dr. Chang Yi and Dr. Negar Tehrani to get fitted for oral appliances to protect their health and their relationships with their partners. Call Fairfax Corner Dental or click “book now” to make an appointment at the Fairfax, Virginia, office today.
Sleep apnea is a medical condition characterized by episodes of disrupted breathing during sleep. Breathing starts and stops throughout the night when your throat muscles relax and block the airway.
Symptoms of sleep apnea include:
When the throat muscles relax enough to cut off your airways during sleep, your throat vibrates as you try to breathe in. Snoring is often a sign of obstructive sleep apnea, especially periods of non-breathing accompany it.
When you stop breathing, and the brain realizes you’re not getting enough air, it wakes you up to restart your breathing. These ongoing sleep disruptions lead to daytime drowsiness because you don’t get adequate rest.
Risk factors for snoring and sleep apnea include:
Sleep apnea causes you to experience periods where your body doesn’t get enough oxygen. In the short-term, this may cause daytime fatigue and insomnia.
Obstructive sleep apnea can lead to dangerous complications without treatment, including:
If you snore or have other symptoms of sleep apnea, it’s important to talk to your physician. Your doctor may perform a physical evaluation and recommend a sleep study. Your dentist can provide relief for snoring and sleep apnea in certain cases.
The specialists at Fairfax Corner Dental offer the following custom-fitted appliances to help you breathe better during sleep:
Mandibular advancement devices extend your lower jaw, which pulls your tongue away from your throat. This forward jaw position keeps the collapsible portion of your throat open.
Instead of pulling your jaw forward, this appliance holds just your tongue in an extended position. In the same way, it keeps your tongue and palate tissue from vibrating.
If you snore or have obstructive sleep apnea, contact Fairfax Corner Dental online or over the phone to schedule an evaluation.