I heard a dentist talking on the radio the other day about the anti-sleep apnea mouthpiece he has developed.  I’ve been making a similar appliance for over ten years, so I did listen to what he had to say.  I’ve written on this subject before, but it’s important enough to talk about again.  And, there’s new information available, so you can’t move on quite yet.

          People, apparently men more than women, snore (noisy breathing while asleep) for several reasons, including flabby tissue in the throat, loose or long soft palates, or obstructed nasal passages.  Sleep apnea (the temporary cessation of breathing) is a result of some of that redundant tissue or the base of the tongue covering the wind- pipe.  Snoring and sleep apnea prevent a good, deep night’s sleep, which can lead to a sleepy day, even narcolepsy (essentially falling asleep in the middle of a sentence).  Severe apnea- this is from the guy on the radio- can occur up to sixty times an hour and last twenty or even thirty seconds per episode.  That’s a long time to starve or deprive a body of oxygen. Undue stress on the heart can be a result of a poor night’s sleep.  And it has now been determined that there is a correlation between sleep apnea and strokes. 

          There are surgical procedures used today to cut away redundant tissue and open up the breathing passage.  Alternatively, I make a non-invasive removable oral appliance (like a retainer) that comfortably repositions the lower jaw forward, thereby clearing the base of the tongue away from the windpipe.  I have tried several designs, both on myself and patients with similar problems, and have finally found THE WINNER.  My wife and my neighbors, and all the patients for whom I’ve made this appliance and their neighbors, are very grateful.  We all awaken more refreshed in the morning because we got a more profound, more restful nights sleep.

          I just got my braces off after fifteen months, during which I couldn’t wear my anti-snoring appliance.  Because I wasn’t sleeping well at night, the sensation of fatigue I experienced all day, or the almost daily need for a nap, was remarkable.  As soon as I started wearing the appliance again, both were almost totally gone.

          If your sleep habits are disturbing other people, or your sleeping-time is not adequately restful, this mouthpiece is definitely worth a try before going the surgery route.  ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ