Downtown Denver Sleep Solutions
Snoring Treatment – Denver, CO
Sleep & Breathe Deeply
Do you have a heavy snoring problem, or are you sleeping next to someone who does? If so, you know it can ruin a promising night of sleep for everyone around. In addition to the noise, snoring disrupts the sleeper’s breathing patterns and prevents them from engaging in deep, restful sleep. When you/they awake the next morning there is often a feeling of general fatigue and lethargy due to the inability to go into deeper sleep patterns and/or poor oxygen flow to the brain during the night.
You are definitely not alone if you have a snoring problem. In fact, it is estimated that anywhere between 30-50% of the population snores. Fortunately, you can eliminate snoring from your life with help from an experienced dental professional, offering snoring treatment for Denver, CO patients.
Keep reading to learn about the causes of snoring and how our team at Downtown Denver Sleep Solutions can help you find the peaceful night of sleep you’ve longed for.
Why Choose Downtown Denver Sleep Solutions for Snoring Treatment?
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Custom, High-Quality
Oral Appliance
Therapy That
Works -
Knowledgeable
Team That
Understands
Your Struggles - Medical Insurance Accepted & Low-Interest Payment Plans Available
What Causes Snoring?
Snoring originates in the sleeper’s airway, when the soft tissue surrounding the airway interferes with the airflow. Snoring can range from mild cases where the sound level is low and the sleeper slumbers peacefully, to loud noise that can be heard in adjacent rooms, to harsh snorts that may even wake the sleeper multiple times during the night. During a snoring episode the sleeper may even be heard gasping for breath.
Typical causes of snoring include obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), blockage of the nasal passages, weak throat muscles, relaxed muscles and obesity. Other potential causes of snoring include:
- alcohol or drug use
- pregnancy
- aging
The very mild cases of snoring may not require intervention because they don’t affect the sleeper’s health, but more severe snoring issues may be attributed to sleep apnea. In conjunction with a physician, we can take the first step in finding out the severity of your snoring and determine whether or not you have sleep apnea by taking a sleep study to truly gain an understanding of the nature and extent of your problem.
How can My Dentist Help My Snoring Problem?
Your dentist can give you deeper insight regarding the causes of your snoring, as well as how to put an end to it. Our team can help you eliminate snoring by ensuring that you maintain regular airflow as you sleep. Treating your snoring and sleep apnea will not only turn down the volume for those around you, it will also protect you from future health problems including heart attack, diabetes and stroke. Contact Downtown Denver Sleep Solutions today to schedule a consultation and find out how you or your loved ones can put an end to snoring.
What is an Oral Sleep Appliance?
An oral sleep appliance is a custom fabricated appliance that will fit over your upper and lower teeth. This device is fabricated so that it will move your lower jaw forward, thereby moving the tongue from the back of the throat. If you’ve ever taken a CPR class and learned about assisted breathing (formerly called mouth-to-mouth breathing) you learned that the first thing you do is open the airway by moving the lower jaw forward. You are doing this to get the bulky soft tissue of the tongue from the back of the throat. It is this same concept that is the function of the oral sleep appliance.
Learn About Oral Sleep Appliance Therapy
Snoring Treatment FAQs
How Is Snoring Different from Sleep Apnea?
Even though snoring and sleep apnea tend to go hand in hand, technically speaking, these two terms do not refer to the same thing. Snoring refers to the sound made when air passing through the throat vibrates its soft tissues, while sleep apnea is a condition that causes patients to wake up frequently due to the blockage of their airway. In primary snoring, oxygen levels are maintained at a normal level and there is not significant airway obstruction. In addition, the obstruction is not enough to cause arousal and sleep are not disrupted. In sleep apnea, there is partial obstruction of airflow that causes oxygen levels to drop. This is what stirs the brain to wake up the body in order to normalize breathing.
I Sleep Like a Log; Does This Mean I Cannot Have Sleep Apnea?
Even if you seem to sleep soundly throughout the night, it doesn’t mean you’re immune to sleep apnea; in fact, most people who have sleep apnea actually sleep quite heavily. Sleep apnea causes disruptions that are not normally detected by the patient. This leads to patients with sleep apnea often feeling sleep-deprived in the sense that their sleep is not refreshing. Ironically, it’s the “good sleepers” who often suffer from the condition—even though they seem to fall asleep as soon as their head hits the pillow, they still often wake up not feeling well-rested.
Is It True That the Only Treatment for Snoring Is a CPAP Device?
Absolutely not! While CPAPs may be what you think of first whenever snoring or sleep apnea is mentioned, this is not the only form of effective treatment. In fact, the vast majority of patients who have mild or moderate obstructive sleep apnea can be treated without a CPAP device. Most can be treated with non-invasive, custom-made oral appliances, which are worn at night and gently reposition the jaw to ensure proper airflow. There are also several types of outpatient non-invasive techniques and lifestyle adjustments that can be utilized to counter snoring; combined with an oral sleep appliance from our office, you’re certain to notice a decrease in symptoms.
Will Insurance Cover My Snoring Treatment?
You’ll be happy to hear that, in most cases, insurance does play a role in helping to cover the cost of snoring treatment. Snoring is almost always associated with some mild form of obstructive sleep apnea or upper airway resistance syndrome, meaning that with proper testing, your insurance plan may cover the cost of what would be considered medically necessary treatment. However, just keep in mind that every insurance policy is different, so you should always be sure you’re familiar with your plan’s specifics before committing to treatment. If you ever have any questions about how to use your plan to pay for your snoring treatment, don’t hesitate to contact our Denver office!