Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea

California: Monterey, Salinas, Santa Cruz

According to research by the National Sleep Foundation, nearly ¼ of all married couples either want to or actually do sleep apart as a result of snoring or sleep disorders like obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Problems with snoring and sleep apnea are all too common and are often caused by dental issues. As surprising as this sounds, it's true. But, Terry W. Forsberg, DDS, is often able to treat your snoring and sleep apnea problems with relative ease. At Advanced Smile Designs of Aptos, California, we are dedicated to help those patients who think they have this difficult condition.

Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea

An important fact that you should be aware of is that Dr. Forsberg himself is a snorer and sufferer of sleep apnea. Who better to treat your condition than someone who is a fellow sufferer? He is a member of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine which promotes research and provides training and resources to professionals who treat snoring and sleep apnea patients.

Sleep disorders are recognized medical and dental conditions. In some situations, a patient's medical insurance may cover part or all of the costs associated with the screening and treatment of sleep disorders. Our patient concierge, Dixie, can work with you to obtain a pre-estimate of what your medical and/or dental benefits may cover prior to treatment.

What Is Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is when airflow to your lungs stops during sleeping. When your brain experiences an oxygen deficiency, it awakens us to restore the supply of oxygen. For sufferers of moderate to severe sleep apnea, this may occur 15 or more times an hour, or at least 120 times a night. This prevents them from ever reaching the truly regenerative stages of sleep, and they wake in the morning without having gotten any real rest.

Why You Need to Treat Your Sleep Apnea

Snoring may seem like just a minor nuisance, but about 30% of snorers have sleep apnea, and, according to a comprehensive long-term study, sleep apnea was shown to be an increased risk factor for many causes of mortality. According to the study, people with moderate to severe sleep apnea were five times more likely to die of all causes than people without sleep apnea. Other studies have linked sleep apnea to auto accident frequency and severity, heart attacks, major depression, and fatal strokes.

Causes of Snoring and Sleep Apnea

Snoring and sleep apnea problems often stem from your jaw's resting position when you sleep. Your throat is mostly soft tissue, except for the only bone in the body not attached to any other bone--the hyoid--and when you relax during sleep, the muscles holding the airway open also relax. The tissues then depend on your mandible (lower jaw) for support, so its positioning directly affects your airway. The airway either remains open so that air can move in and out freely, or it is partially closed and obstructing air flow and causing the tissue to vibrate. This is what causes you to snore and experience difficulty when breathing while you are trying to sleep. If it becomes fully closed, it cuts off the airflow completely (apnea), leading to sleep apnea.

Screening and Treating Sleep Apnea

If you are a snorer or if you awake in the morning without rest, no matter how long you slept, you should investigate the possibility that you have sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is typically diagnosed at a sleep medicine center, where you will undergo polysomnography.

If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, the standard recommended treatment is Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP). CPAP is a good treatment for some, but over 2/3 of sleep apnea sufferers do not like CPAP and cannot adapt to the treatment. Instead, they go without treatment altogether. An alternative is available, though. Oral appliance therapy is a comfortable, inexpensive, and often successful treatment option, one that Dr. Forsberg not only recommends, but has used himself to reduce his snoring and sleep apnea.

At last, there is an answer to your snoring and obstructive sleep apnea that will not result in your disruption of the entire household, or you being banned to the couch for the evening. To learn more about SomnoDent Dental Sleep Appliance and what it can do for you, please visit our website www.MontereyBay.IHateCPAP.com, or contact Terry W. Forsberg, DDS, at Advanced Smile Designs of Aptos, California today.

(800) 680-3640

3275 Aptos Rancho Rd., Suite D
Aptos, California 95003
Contact Us

Monterey Cosmetic Dentistry Disclaimer: The content on this site about cosmetic dentistry in Monterey, California is intended to provide information on general, neuromuscular, and cosmetic dentistry procedures including porcelain veneers, tooth bonding, and teeth whitening. The cosmetic dentistry information on this site does not serve as medical advice. If you live Santa Cruz County, including Monterey and Salinas, California, and are interested in learning more about cosmetic dentistry, please email Advanced Smile Designs or call us at (800) 680-3640.
Copyright © 2009 LVI LIVE All Rights Reserved

Website Design, Development and Optimization by Page1Solutions, LLC.

Welcome to the Advanced Smile Designs website, please upgrade your Flash Plugin and enable JavaScript.