Have you ever had a night like that? Your dream turns into an unsettling adventure on a freight train. Only to be jolted awake and realize that it’s your husband snoring and the sound of the freight train is their snoring? Maybe he needs a mouthguard!
The reality of the situation is that HE isn’t getting a good night sleep either! Most likely Sleep Apenea is to blame. Sleep Apnea causes you to temporarily stop breathing during sleep and snoring is the side effect. These disturbances in your sleep can occur repeatedly and result in restless sleep and daytime drowsiness. Long term, Sleep Apnea can cause serious health issues including increased blood pressure and the restriction of oxygen to your brain and your blood stream.
Related Article: Having Trouble Sleeping? Talk to Your Dentist!
Now what? Dr. Gary Skrobanek at GPS Dental can help you BOTH get a good night sleep!
Will a Mouthguard will work?
By scheduling an initial consultation with Dr. Skrobanek and explaining your situation, he can work with you to recommend a dental appliance or mouthguard to wear at night that will alleviate the issue. A simple dental exam is all that needs to be done to figure out if you are a candidate for this treatment.
If so, Dr. Skrobanek can have a custom mouthguard made that fits over your maxilla and mandible (upper and lower jaw). The upper device hooks into the lower portion and enables the mandible to be pulled forward. You will be show how to use the dial mechanism to adjust the degree that the jaw needs to be held in a forward position so that it doesn’t fall open during the night causing your airway to collapse. By holding the mandible forward, the appliance (mouthguard) maintains a clear airway that improves breathing while you sleep and reduces snoring!
For more advanced cases of Sleep Apnea, a CPAP machine is the most effective treatment method; however, studies show that half of all CPAP patients cannot tolerate this type of therapy. Using a mouthguard type device is much less invasive and far more comfortable.
Related Article: Do You Hate Your CPAP Machine? Try this Simple Fix for Sleep Apnea.
Benefits of a Mouthguard:
- Alleviate Sleep Apnea without the need for surgery, a mask, or medication
- Improve Sleep
- Reduce Snoring
- Easy to Use
- Comfortable, Custom Fit
- Durable
What Causes Snoring?
According to the National Sleep Foundation, snoring is a problem that affects approximately 90 million Americans. Needless to say, many couples are going through the issue of one person being a very loud snorer.
Snoring is caused by the muscles in your throat and your tongue relaxing too much while sleeping, which causes the throat to become more narrow. The air going in and out of the throat then causes the characteristic sound of snoring. Snoring becomes more serious with age and is more common in overweight individuals and males.
Sweet Dreams…
Mouthguards or oral appliance therapy is covered by many medical insurance plans so this may come at little to no out-of-pocket cost to you. We’re happy to contact your dental insurance provider for you and have payment options available.
Give us a call and schedule your appointment today, so you AND your husband can get a good night sleep!
Dr. Gary P. Skrobanek and his experienced, friendly team at GPS Dental offer affordable family dentistry and gentle dental care in the San Antonio, TX area. Our office is conveniently located and offers early morning appointment times Monday through Friday to meet your needs. At GPS Dental, we provide most dental services, from family and general dentistry to dental implants, sleep apnea, TMJ / TMD Treatment, cosmetic dentistry and much more. We accept most dental insurance plans and offer affordable financial solutions for any budget. Call us at (210) 633-3477 to make an appointment.
