Dr. Mogell Dental Blog

Boca Raton Cosmetic Dentist

Dental Approach to Snoring

Monday, November 23, 2009

IS THERE SNORING IN YOUR HOUSE?

The experts estimate around 80 million people snore in the US alone. If you also add in the spouses and children who listen to the snoring, that total is far greater!

Snoring causes many health related problems, not just the anger and frustration from listening all night. Some of these health problems are high blood pressure, increase chance of stroke, and depression from lack of sleep.

Many of you may think your family member can control their snoring, but that’s far from the truth. Snoring happens after you fall asleep, the muscles and the soft tissues in your throat relax. When they relax, this makes your airway smaller and there is less space for air to flow through. When there is less space for air to flow through, the air that does get through causes the soft palate (softer part of the roof of your mouth) to vibrate. It is the vibrations that cause the snoring sound. The other reasons for snoring are being over weight, drinking alcohol, using sedatives, and having enlarged tonsils and adenoids.

What can be done? There are a few solutions, one being surgery to remove those enlarged tonsils, adenoids and the soft tissue causing the snoring. While this is a solution, the success has not been overwhelming. The success rate has been somewhere around 20-40%. This is also a costly procedure to have done.

The most inexpensive and least invasive solution is an oral snoring device that Dr. Mogell can prescribe and make for you. How does this work? The device keeps your lower jaw in a forward position. When your jaw is in this position, it increases the space the air flows through which prevents the soft palate and soft tissues in your throat from vibrating. Your family member does not snore and you get some much needed sleep!!

If you or someone you love snores, please call our office at 561-394-9000 to arrange an appointment to get you on your way to a better nights sleep!

Kenneth A. Mogell, D.M.D.