If sleep or snoring issues plague you or someone you love, the cause may be dental issues. Ask our team about the treatment options that we offer at Fort St. John Dental Clinic.
Treating Sleep Apnea & Snoring
If you have ever suffered from sleep apnea or have a partner who does, you know that it can be a disconcerting problem, for both you and for them. Left untreated, sleep issues can trigger a host of health problems, which may be helped by a dental appliance or other treatment.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
When the airway collapses, blocking airflow into the lungs obstructive sleep apnea can occur. And, when it does, the harder you try to breathe, the tighter your airway seals. This airway obstruction persists until the brain partially awakens you, unconsciously closing the jaw and returning the tongue and throat to a normal position.
For people with sleep apnea, this cycle can repeat itself 50 or more times per hour during the night. The result? You do not receive enough oxygen. Both the awakenings and oxygen deprivation can then trigger other health problems, including chronic sleepiness, headaches, depression, exhaustion, high blood pressure, and even strokes and heart attacks.
Treatment Options For Sleep Apnea
The team at Fort St. John Dental Clinic has been treating patients with sleep apnea and snoring issues for many years, using an appliance called a mandibular advancement appliance.
This appliance holds the mandible (lower jaw) forward during sleep to prevent the tongue and soft tissues of the throat from collapsing into the airway.
By adjusting the degree to which the mandible is held forward, Dr. Wanke can maximize both the effectiveness of the appliance and the patient's comfort.
