Snoring and Sleep Apnea

Snoring and other types of obstructive sleep apnea can be much more than just a nuisance; they can lead to a serious debilitation in your sleeping habits, as well as your overall health and relationships with others. At Imagine Advanced Dental Arts, our Lawrenceville cosmetic dentists can help you reduce the effects of snoring and lower the risk of developing more severe physical and mental health problems that snoring can cause. We offer a variety of treatments that have proven effective at preventing airway obstruction for a more peaceful night’s sleep.

Contact our practice for more information on sleep dentistry and snoring treatment in the Lawrenceville and Central New Jersey region.

Daytime sleepiness? You could be suffering from obstructive sleep apnea.

What is Snoring?

While sleeping, the muscles in the mouth and throat relax and expand, ultimately narrowing your airway. Snoring is the act of air passing through this restricted passageway, causing the soft tissues at the back of the throat to vibrate. The harder the struggle to breathe as you sleep, the louder the snoring becomes. Snoring can be prevalent in those who are affected by a variety of conditions, including:

• Muscles that have been excessively relaxed from the use of medications and/or alcohol before going to sleep
• Dry throat resulting from excessive use of high-alcohol beverages, mouthwashes, and/or syrups
• Sleep apnea (interruption of breathing during sleep)
• Swollen nasal tissues
• Dry and irritated airway due to smoking and/or environmental conditions such as an arid climate or heating systems

What Other Conditions Can Snoring Lead to?

Since the body often uses the time in sleep mode to repair and restore itself, snoring can make you more apt to develop health problems. These include:

• Impairment of cognitive functions such as complex, rational thought and memory
• Reduced motor control and alertness
• Effects on immune and endocrine systems, which can lead to high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes
• Depression, anxiety, stress, and mood swings
• Increased risk of erectile dysfunction
• Increased risk of cardiac failure, stroke, and other life-threatening conditions

How Can Dentistry Help with Snoring?

At Imagine Advanced Dental Arts, both Drs. David Schor and Vivien Mesina have specialized training in the area of sleep dentistry and can help you reduce snoring with a number of treatments that have proven effective. Oral appliances and dental orthotics (similar to a night guard) can be worn while you sleep to help prevent snoring. Our dental orthotics are custom-designed for your mouth, and have the ability to stop soft tissues from expanding and obstructing the airway during sleep.

Dental orthotics are known to be more comfortable than other snore-treatment devices, such as the CPAP.

In addition to dental orthotics, our experienced dentists can recommend a treatment plan that can guide you in altering daily habits that might be contributing to snoring and sleeping difficulties.

Please contact Imagine Advanced Dental Arts to schedule a consultation for sleep dentistry and snoring treatment. We will be happy to answer your questions.