SLEEP BETTER WITH SNORING/SLEEP APNEA TREATMENT
If you’ve ever wondered how to go about finding relief from chronic snoring, you might be surprised to learn that the answer might be found at your dentist’s office. The factors that usually cause snoring, as well as the related condition, obstructive sleep apnea, can often be addressed with a custom oral appliance provided by Dr. Cornelius.
Questions About Snoring and Sleep Apnea
What causes snoring?
Most people can recognize snoring by its sound, but still might not be aware of exactly what the phenomenon is. As you sleep, the muscles and tissues in your throat can over-relax, or may be larger than normal, and can partially block your airway. Snoring is the sound of compressed air and vibrating throat tissues as you are forced to breathe through a smaller airway.
If I only snore slightly, should I still seek treatment?
If your snores are extraordinarily loud, you might not question the need for treatment. If they are slight and barely a nuisance to your sleeping partner, then you might not see the need for treatment. Besides the noise, however, snoring can also lead to increased health risks as you grow older, since the condition forces you to work harder for less air while you sleep.
What is obstructive sleep apnea?
Obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA, occurs in patients with extreme cases of snoring, where oral and throat tissues repeatedly block the airway entirely. The obstruction causes you to stop breathing, which in turn causes your mind and body to panic until you start breathing again. Patients with OSA are usually not aware of the interruptions to their sleep cycle, but can still experience sleep deprivation due to an inability to enter deep, restful sleep.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
How can an oral appliance help me treat snoring and sleep apnea?
Depending on the severity of your condition, Dr. Cornelius can help you stop snoring and alleviate sleep apnea by custom-designing an oral appliance, or mouthguard, suited to your needs. The guard will help keep your lower jaw in a more open position, helping prevent the collapse of oral and throat tissues into your airway.
Mandibular Advancement Device
Ask Dr. Cornelius if You Need Sleep Apnea Treatment
If you snore constantly, or if you’ve been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, then ask Dr. Cornelius if you qualify for a custom-designed sleep guard. To schedule a consultation, call Dr. Cornelius’ office in Keller, TX, at 817-431-4200. We proudly the serve the residents of Keller, Roanoke, Trophy Club, Westlake, Southlake, North Richland Hills, and all surrounding communities.