Snoring Appliances may also benefit Sleep Apnea!
This diagram illustrates opening the airway with an appliance from a Silent-Nite brochure
Our office has made snoring appliances for our patients for over 25 years. So, we are good at it! We now offer a few different kinds of snoring appliances depending on the situation.
This durable snoring appliance has been worn by our patient for several years. He brings it with him to our office for regular cleanings. All acrylic appliances will change in color over time. This one started out as clear! Smooth tabs on the side of the appliances can be adjusted to bring the jaw forward and open the airway.
Snoring appliances also benefits patients with sleep apnea!
Below is the same appliance in position.
Our patient has worn this appliance for years as a remedy for sleep apnea and snoring.
Snoring is the sound made when the airway is restricted in some way. It may or may not be annoying or even harmful or to the person who snores or to the person who hears the snoring. As your body relaxes during sleep, the soft tissues and/or the tongue may impinge on the airway at the back of the throat.
During snoring, the volumetric capacity of the airway is decreased and the air entering or escaping from the lungs may cause snoring. This may be accompanied by sleep apnea and a decreased supply of oxygen to the body during nighttime breathing.
Snoring appliances like the ‘Silent Nite’ are easy to wear, comfortable, and decrease snoring by increasing the volumetric capacity of the airway.
Snoring appliances will often benefit persons with sleep apnea as they promote a forward movement of the lower jaw and thereby open the airway and increase the volumetric capacity. This aids in the prevention of both snoring and sleep apnea. The photo to the left shows a Silent Nite appliance.
Herbst Appliance
Our newest, and current favorite sleep apnea and anti-snoring device is called a Herbst appliance. This appliance shows great promise for the treatment of mild to moderate sleep apnea, and it is durable and comfortable.
How do you know if you have just snoring or snoring with sleep apnea?
It is usually whoever you sleep with or whoever is close to you when you sleep that will happily tell you that you snore. It may in fact interfere with their sleep more than with yours! Sleep apnea is potentially more serious. Sleep apnea is the temporary cessation of breathing especially during sleep. Thousands suffer from sleep apnea. The best way to know if you have sleep apnea is to have a professional sleep study completed where you are monitored throughout the night to see if your breathing and air intake is affected.
Please ask us if you have further questions about snoring or sleep apnea. We are happy to help!