Treatment of Snoring and Sleep Apnea

There are several forms of treatment for sleep apnea.
In mild and moderate cases, weight loss and the use of mandibular advancement devices such as the ORTHOAPNEA device can be highly successful.
In severe cases, the CPAP device (Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) or surgeries are usually prescribed.

When patients with severe cases can’t handle the CPAP machine during the night, the ORTHOAPNEA device becomes the only solution.

A new revolutionary dental treatment for snoring and sleep apnea.

Snoring is defined as a coarse sound made by vibrations of the soft palate and other tissue in the mouth. It is caused by turbulence inside the airway during respiration. Snoring can originate from the nose, oropharynx or the base of the tongue. In recent years, it has been found that the tongue plays a far more important role in the incidence of snoring than was once thought. Snoring occurs only during sleep when the muscles are relaxed; that’s why we don’t snore when we are awake because muscle tone keeps the airway in good shape.

Sleep Apnea or Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is defined as the cessation of airflow during sleep, preventing air from entering the lungs caused by an obstruction. These periods of ‘stopped breathing’ only become clinically significant if the cessation lasts for more than 10 seconds each time and occur more than 10 times every hour. OSA only happens during sleep, as it is a lack of muscle tone in your upper airway that causes the airway to collapse. When you experience an episode of apnea during sleep, your brain will automatically wake you up, usually with a very loud snore or snort, in order to breathe again. People with OSA will feel very sleepy during the day.

Sufferers may experience some of the following:

• Extremely loud heavy snoring, often interrupted by pauses and gasps
• Excessive daytime sleepiness, e.g., falling asleep at work etc.
• Irritability, short temper
• Morning headaches, forgetfulness
• Changes in mood or behavior
• Anxiety or depression
• Decreased interest in sex