SLEEP SOUND INSTITUTE

A full night's sleep is essential to your overall health. If you are well-rested, you feel good and can function at your best. According to statistics, approximately 25 million adults in the United States suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, and more than three times that number snore. At Sleep Sound Institute, we provide care to address these issues so that you can enjoy a safe and uninterrupted night's sleep.

What Is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a serious and potentially life-threatening disorder involving repeated pauses in breathing while asleep. The most common form of this condition is obstructive sleep apnea. This occurs when there is an obstruction of an individual's airway that interferes with the flow of oxygen through the nose or mouth during sleep.

In someone afflicted with obstructive sleep apnea, the muscles of the throat and mouth relax during sleep to the point where they fall back into the upper airway and create a blockage that restricts breathing.

What Are Some of the Signs and Symptoms of Sleep Apnea?

Symptoms of this disorder during sleeping hours may include:

• Loud snoring
• Episodes of breathing cessation
• Abrupt awakenings
• Episodes of gasping for air
• Difficulty getting a good night's sleep

An individual with sleep apnea will exhibit problems during the day as well. Sleep apnea can lead to a morning headache, excessive daytime sleepiness, difficulty concentrating, and irritability. Furthermore suffering from sleep apnea can be associated with other medical conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular and heart issues, gastric reflux and depression.

How Do I Know If I Have Sleep Apnea?

A sleep study is typically conducted to determine the severity of the disorder. The results of this study along with other medical findings will play a role in determining the recommended therapy. In some cases testing to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea and determine blood oxygen levels along with how well you are breathing while sleeping can be done in the comfort of your own home.

Oral appliances are custom-fitted devices designed to treat obstructive Sleep Apnea by repositioning the jaw and tongue to maintain an open airway during sleep. Similar to mouthguards worn for sports, these devices are typically worn only at night and work by either holding the lower jaw slightly forward or stabilizing the tongue in a position that prevents airway collapse.

For those with mild to moderate sleep apnea, oral appliances can be an effective alternative to CPAP therapy, offering several advantages including:

• Greater comfort and ease of use compared to CPAP machines
• Portability for travel
• Silent operation
• No electricity required
• Higher compliance rates due to comfort

Many patients find oral appliances less intrusive than CPAP therapy, though effectiveness varies by individual. We here at Sleep Sound Institute can order and custom-fit these devices for our patients based on need.

Oral Appliances For Snoring

According to statistics, about 90 million individuals in the United States snore while they sleep and 160 million people, accounting for spouses and children, are negatively affected by snoring. While for about half of these people the problem is simply snoring, the others may be afflicted with Sleep Apnea. Therefore, before any type of treatment can be prescribed, it must be determined whether the problem is sleep apnea or "simple" snoring.

If it is determined that your problem is simply snoring, and you are what is known as a primary snorer, then an oral appliance can help you as well as any of your roommates enjoy a quieter and more comfortable sleep. Just like for mild Sleep Apnea, we customize an appliance to address snoring fits somewhat like a sports mouthguard or orthodontic retainer and is only worn while you sleep. As a removable and non-invasive treatment for snoring, your appliance slightly repositions your jaw to allow for a less restricted airflow to promote a quieter and more restful sleep.