Does your partner complain about your chronic snoring? Are you tired in the morning, or wake up with a headache? You may have a condition called Sleep Apnea. Our doctor at Flintridge Dental Studio can help! We offer treatments that are comfortable and practical for patients, and their partners, who long for a good night’s sleep.

Sleep apnea is a potentially severe condition causing breath pauses while you sleep. These breaks usually last for a few seconds and can occur several times during the night. It happens because your airway collapses when your throat muscles are relaxed. Breathing resumes again with a loud snorting or a choking sound. Snoring, on the other hand, is a sound you continuously make while you are sleeping. Snoring happens when the soft tissues in your upper airway vibrate when you breathe.

There are two kinds of sleep apnea, and each requires a different kind of treatment. They are obstructive (OSA) and central (CSA) obstructive. The most common is obstructive sleep apnea. At Flintridge Dental Studio, we recommend our patients use a customized oral device for treating OSA. Similar to a night guard, the device is worn in your mouth when sleeping to prevent the airway from being obstructed.

Snoring is a common condition and sometimes a warning sign of sleep apnea. Snoring occurs when the airflow in your nose and throat is constricted. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the airway is completely closed, and your air supply is cut off. Chronic snorers should be evaluated for sleep apnea disorder.

Like sleep apnea, the treatment for snoring is an oral device. It helps to relocate your jaw, so the airway stays open. It’s important to discuss your snoring treatment with the doctor at Flintridge Dental Studio before purchasing an over-the-counter device. The doctor can customize your mouth guard, make the proper adjustments and ensure it fits and works perfectly.

If you’ve been told you snore or gasp for breath when you’re sleeping, you need to make an appointment. Call Flintridge Dental Studio at (818) 814-9732.