Snoring: Why It May Have Greater Consequences than Disrupting Your Partner’s Sleep

Snoring can be more than an annoyance. It can sometimes signal serious sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea, that may impact your oral health and overall well-being. Our team at Janda Family Dentistry may recommend oral appliance therapy to improve your quality of sleep and protect your long-term health. Contact our Berthoud practice to get started today.

Is Your Snoring Telling You Something?

Snoring is something many people experience from time to time. It happens when the air struggles to move through a partially blocked airway during sleep. This resistance to airflow causes the surrounding tissues to vibrate and produce the familiar rumbling sound.

Occasional snoring is pretty common and often harmless. It can happen to anyone, especially if you’re congested, extra tired, or if you sleep on your back. But when snoring is loud, frequent, and accompanied by other symptoms, it may be worth looking into, because it may point to a more serious concern, such as obstructive sleep apnea.

What Is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder that’s characterized by pauses in breathing that can last several seconds and occur dozens or even hundreds of times every hour as you sleep. Because these interruptions prevent deep, restful sleep, many people with sleep apnea wake up feeling tired or irritable, even after what seems like a full night’s rest.

If any of this sounds familiar, a sleep apnea screening may be right for you. Left untreated, the sleep disorder is associated with significant health risks, including high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. Prompt care can enhance your health and overall quality of life.

Diagnosing Sleep Apnea

The following are some ways our team at Janda Family Dentistry helps diagnose sleep apnea:

Physical Exams: During your twice-yearly dental exams, we check for signs of airway concerns. Worn, chipped, or flattened teeth often point to nighttime grinding, which is frequently linked to sleep apnea. We also look for scalloping along the edges of the tongue, redness or irritation at the back of the throat, or a restricted or narrow palate, all of which can point to ongoing airway stress during sleep.

Sleep Studies: We offer home sleep studies when necessary,  allowing you to complete testing in the comfort of your home. Early detection is key. Identifying airway concerns can help patients find effective solutions before symptoms worsen.

Pharyngometry: Acoustic reflection airway screening, also known as pharyngometry, uses Echovision technology to evaluate the size, shape, and stability of your upper airway. The simple, non-invasive screening helps detect potential airway restrictions that may contribute to snoring and sleep apnea.

Oral Appliance Therapy for Sleep Apnea

At Janda Family Dentistry, we offer oral appliance therapy as an alternative to CPAP therapy for patients who find the machines noisy or cumbersome. We may recommend a custom oral appliance worn like a mouthguard over your teeth during sleep to help reposition your jaw to keep your airway open throughout the night.

Studies show that more patients continue wearing their oral appliance over time than those using CPAP therapy. This higher compliance rate can help lead to better outcomes. You and your partner will appreciate the newfound peace and better quality of sleep.

Oral Appliance Therapy for Sleep Apnea Near Me in Berthoud, CO

When you breathe better, you sleep better! At Janda Family Dentistry, we offer comprehensive evaluations to identify airway concerns. We will help you determine whether oral appliance therapy for sleep apnea may be the ideal solution to restore your quality of sleep. You can always count on us for exceptional care and a top-tier patient experience. Call us at 970-746-9006 or request your consultation online today!