Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition that disrupts sleep by causing pauses in breathing or shallow breaths, leading to poor sleep quality. Treatment options include lifestyle changes, custom oral appliances, CPAP devices, or surgery to improve airflow. Snoring, often linked to airway obstruction, can also be addressed with a snore guard, which keeps the airway open during sleep.
Grand Avenue Dental Studio provides snoring and sleep apnea therapy in Chickasha, OK. Call
to learn more and schedule an appointment.Snoring is caused by a narrowing or blocking of the airway. The disruption of airflow causes the soft palate and tissues of the throat to vibrate. The narrower the airway becomes, the louder the snoring.
Snoring can often be treated by wearing a snore guard that maintains an open, unobstructed airway in the throat while you sleep.
Some common causes of snoring include:
For moderate to severe sleep apnea, a breathing device called CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) or surgery to widen the breathing passages by shrinking, stiffening, or removing excess tissue in the mouth and throat or resetting the lower jaw may be helpful. A CPAP machine uses a mask that fits over your mouth and/or nose and gently blows air into your throat. This air pressure helps keep your airway open while you sleep. Surgery to shrink the tissue involves a small shot into the breathing passages. Surgery to stiffen excess tissue requires a small incision in the tissue and inserting a piece of stiff plastic.
