You’ve visited the dentist for routine cleanings and the occasional dental procedure, but have you ever thought to ask them about sleeping trouble? Snoring is one of the most overlooked contributors to chronic exhaustion and other serious health conditions. You may have sought other options if you are a snorer, or are a partner of a snorer. Earplugs, white noise, and store-bought contraptions are only temporary fixes. While Dr. Kulesa’s office is known for providing affordable dental care in Reno, our experts can also offer solutions to alleviate your snoring for a better night’s sleep.
What Causes Snoring?
Before we get into treatments, let’s explore the causes of snoring. Snoring can be rooted in a number of factors, like the anatomy of your mouth and sinuses, allergies, your position when sleeping, alcohol consumption, and your weight.
When you nod off and progress from light to deeper sleep, your throat, tongue, and muscles in the roof of your mouth begin to relax. If conditions are right, these muscles can relax enough and partially block your airway. When you inhale and exhale, the obstructions vibrate and cause snoring.
A more obstructed airway results in more force behind the air. This increases vibration within the soft tissue, only causing the snoring to grow more intense, and louder.
A Dental Solution for Snoring
People don’t usually associate dentists with snoring remedies. However, the issue does stem from within your mouth and throat. Therefore it can’t hurt to ask while we are examining it anyway! While not typically as effective (or extreme) as C-PAP machines, Dr. Kulesa and staff can recommend a D-SAD dental appliance that can help to treat your chronic snoring.
The D-SAD (digital sleep apnea device) is an oral appliance worn in the mouth during sleep to keep the soft tissue in the airway from collapsing, thus reducing the chance of snoring. Though it’s essentially an anti snore mouthgaurd, The Panthera D-SAD is the smallest device in the industry and the only one that is entirely printed using CAD/CAM technology. This means that unlike traditional mouthpieces that are prepared by hand, the D-SAD is custom-fit to your mouth’s unique anatomy.
Advanced software takes scans from your mouth mold and instructs the computer-aided printer to create your custom mouthgaurd to stop snoring. A major advantage of the CAD/CAM process is the consistent turnaround time. Once we send your mold to the manufacturer, they return with a completed D-SAD within 10 business days. This gets you the snoring treatment you need faster so you (and your partner) can begin restoring your sleep schedule.
A Trusted Team for Dental – and Snoring – Needs
If you are experiencing chronic snoring, talk to our knowledgeable staff about oral snoring treatments. We’re happy to chat on your next check up, or schedule you to come in and discuss the D-SAD solution for snoring. Contact the Smiles By Dr. K office to ensure a vibrant smile, and healthy sleep.