Is Snoring a Problem?

What causes snoring?
During sleep, the muscles and soft tissue in the throat and mouth relax making the breathing airway smaller. This decrease in the airway space increases the velocity of air flowing through the airway during breathing. As the velocity of required air increased in the constricted space, soft tissue like the soft palate and uvula vibrate. These vibrations of the soft tissues in the mouth and throat result in what is called "noisy breathing" or generally referred to as snoring. It has also been shown in sleep studies that excess body weight especially in the throat area, heavy alcohol consumption and other sedatives increase the severity of snoring.

Breathing is EASIER with the Silent Nite appliance
The Silent Nite does not interfere with breathing through the mouth. Even when nasal passages are congested the device prevents snoring and allows uninhibited oral breathing. The connectors allow the patient to move the jaw side to side and open and close the mouth minimizing potential stiffness in the joints of the jaw in the morning. Silent Nite appliances help promote deeper, more restful sleep by preventing snoring. You wake feeling better rested and more energetic.

How can I determine if the Silent Nite appliance will benefit me?
A simple test is to put your teeth together, close your lips and inhale through your nose. You should then open your mouth and move your lower teeth slightly in front of your upper teeth (a bull dog like bite) and close your lips. When inhaling through your nose you should notice improved airflow and less snoring noise. If the result to this test is positive (less noise and better breathing) then the SilentNite appliance will benefit you. This therapy has been shown in studies to help 85% of patients that snore or have sleep apnea. The remaining 15% require other therapeutic approaches (i.e. surgical) to correct the problem.

Snoring may indicate sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a serious disease - and is said to reduce lifespan by about 10 years, be associated with heart problems, memory problems, impotence. It's not about snoring - it's about life and death. Present it correctly to your patients and not many refuse diagnosis.

According to a recent study, untreated sleep apnea may increase a person's risk of motor vehicle accidents. That's because sleep apnea, a snoring condition characterized by intermittent airway obstruction, can deprive you of sleep, making driving a danger. But accident risk is reduced when sleep apnea is treated.

Your dentist can help diagnose this condition or refer you to a specialist.  If your dentist thinks your have sleep apnea he may refer you to a physician or sleep specialist.  For a proper diagnosis you may have to undergo an overnight sleep study.  With a proper diagnosis your dentist and doctor can work closely together to implement a therapy to help you.

Source: RealAge Benefit: Getting 6 to 8 hours of sleep per night can make your RealAge as much as 3 years younger