Cavities are caused by harmful bacteria that chip away at the tooth’s enamel. If untreated, cavities can cause your tooth to lose their structural integrity. If recognized in time, our dentist can fix the problem by inserting a filling
What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs when a person momentarily stops breathing for a few seconds while sleeping. Normally, air flows smoothly from the mouth and nose into the lungs. The periods when breathing stops are called apnea or apneic episodes. In OSA, the normal flow of air is repeatedly interrupted throughout the night. Airway space is restricted, so air stops flowing because the throat cannot expand and relax properly. Snoring is a characteristic of obstructive sleep apnea. Snoring is caused by the airflow squeezing through the narrowed airway space.
The severity of OSA is defined by the number of these apnea occurrences your experience per hour of sleep. These episodes of obstruction can result in the OSA sufferer waking suddenly, however, these periods are not normally remembered in the morning. OSA is generally defined as being in the mild to moderate if the number of occurrences is between 5 to 30 occurrences in an hour.
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends oral appliances as a first line treatment for snoring and mild to moderate OSA. At Lamb Family Dental, we recommend SomnoMed stop snoring devices for mild to moderate OSA.
What is SomnoMed?
SomnoMed is a new treatment for sleep apnea. This small device fits in the palm of your hand and is custom designed to fit each individual mouth making it very comfortable to wear.
How Does SomnoMed Work?
SomnoMed devices treat OSA by advancing the lower jaw which keeps the airways open. The appliance is custom-made to fit your mouth and consists of an upper and lower splint that cover your teeth and will continuously adjust during the night to advance your lower jaw throughout the treatment process. As your jaw moves forward it, in turn, helps open your airway allowing you to breathe easier and sleep more comfortably for longer periods of time, helping you to reach deep, REM sleep.
Make a Stop Snoring appointment today! Boise dentist, Dr. Lamb is here to help!
