If you snore loudly and excessively, your partner may encourage you to seek treatment so you can both rest peacefully at night. However, snoring treatment is important for more reasons than just noise. In some cases, chronic snoring can indicate a more serious disorder—obstructive sleep apnea—that can have a significant impact on your overall wellbeing. If you snore, Dr. Cook can help you determine if it’s associated with sleep apnea. If so, a custom-designed sleep guard may help treat both.
Snoring Treatment Matters
When you sleep, your oral and throat tissues can partially obstruct your airway, which leads to increased air pressure and vibrating throat tissues that cause the sound of snoring. The partial blockage forces you to work harder for less air, and if it occurs consistently, it can have long-lasting effects on your cardiovascular system. Sleep apnea, which is often marked by loud episodes of snoring, involves the complete obstruction of your airway and causes you to periodically stop breathing in your sleep. Sleep apnea episodes can occur repeatedly throughout the night, preventing you from reaching a deep enough level of sleep to rest properly.
To help you stop snoring and treat sleep apnea, Dr. Cook may be able to design a custom appliance that helps keep your airway open while you sleep. The appliance can often serve as an alternative treatment option for sleep apnea patients who currently rely on a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine.
Tell Dr. Cook if You Snore Consistently
If you snore, it may be a signal of more serious obstructive sleep apnea, and you should mention it to Dr. Cook during your next appointment. To schedule an examination, call Family First Dental in Overland Park, KS, today at 913-381-2600.