There is so much talk in todays media about snoring and sleep apnea that I feel compelled to define the two to give patients a better understanding of the differences between the two.
Snoring is a problem that affects many adults. The biggest difference is that patients who snore only, do not have a cessation of breathing
Sleep Apnea is the cessation of breathing during sleep and is a dangerous medical condition. This occurs when the airway is blocked, usually for at least ten seconds.
Sleep apnea can increase the incidence of medical problems such as heart attacks, strokes, blood pressure rise and other issues.
There are several treatment options for sleep apnea. These options will depend on the results of your sleep study. For those with mild to moderate sleep apnea, the use of an oral dental appliance that can be properly titrated (adjusted) is often indicated. The CPAP machine can be used but is not well tolerated by many individuals. It is however, the gold standard of treatment and is especially indicated for severe sleep apnea.
If you have any questions about sleep apnea or oral dental sleep appliances, feel free to call our office, Ronald W. Konig DDS, FAGD, LVIF, a Houston Sleep Dentist and Houston TMJ Dentist, who has special interest in treating these disorders. 713-668-2289
