Sleep Apnea

Sleep Apnea

If you or someone you know snores, you might not think of visiting the dentist for treatment. Dentistry isn’t limited to the cleaning of teeth and fillings and East Coast Centre offers comprehensive services to correct problems like Snoring and Sleep Apena through oral appliance therapy.

Sleep Apnea is a sleep disorder characterized by pauses in breathing or periods of shallow breathing during sleep. Each pause can last for a few seconds to a few minutes and they happen many times a night.

In the most common form this follows loud snoring. There may be a choking or snorting sound as breathing resumes. As it disrupts normal sleep, those affected may experience sleepiness or feel tired during the day. In children it may cause problems in school or hyperactivity.

Dr. Chickey uses Oral Appliance Therapy as the first line treatment for patients who snore or have mild to moderate Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Studies show that patients who have been successfully treated for Sleep Apnea with both the CPAP and an Oral Appliance preferred the Oral Appliance as their long term option.

What is an Oral Appliance and how does it work?

An Oral Appliance is a customized, removable device, designed to keep the airways open while you sleep, preventing Snoring and Sleep Apnea. More commonly called a Snore Guard, an Oral Appliance is similar to a Sports Mouth Guard and helps to keep the jaws in proper alignment and the tongue and soft tissue in their proper place to prevent them from blocking the airway.

Even though snoring is characterized on TV and in movies as being hilarious, in reality it is a potentially serious health condition. Both the snorer and their partner may experience poor quality of sleep. In addition, studies have linked snoring to major health problems including Sleep Apnea, Cardiovascular Disease, and maintenance of blood sugar levels.

You deserve a good night’s sleep! If you or someone you love snores, contact Dr. Chickey and his team today for a consultation and find out if a snore guard is right for you.