Snoring occurs because the airway to the lungs is partially obstructed by either the tongue or an overall airway passage that is too small. The needed volume of air is forced to travel through a passage that is too small causing a reverberation in the back of the throat we all know as snoring.
Snoring should be recognized as more than just an embarrassing or bothersome sleep habit, as it can be the first sign of a very serious breathing abnormality, known as sleep apnea. People with sleep apnea have multiple episodes during the night, in which, they actually stop breathing - significantly reducing their effective sleep and oxygen supply to the heart/brain. Chronic sleep apnea is a life threatening condition! Sleep apnea can lead to very serious medical problems, such as congestive heart failure, obesity, fatigue, depression and excessive daytime sleepiness.
What causes the airway to become too small resulting in snoring and/or sleep apnea? The majority of the time, it is the result of a person falling to sleep on their back (or side). In this position, the lower jaw falls back and down, bringing the tongue with it and constricting the airway thus restricting the airflow and causing snoring. However, in more serious cases of sleep apnea, it may be due to a person who has a lower jaw that is too small and position backward, which drastically decreases the size of the airway, resulting in multiple episodes of apnea or breathing cessation during sleeping hours.
How can an orthodontist help with snoring/sleep apnea?
We can fabricate a custom made appliance which positions the lower jaw up and forward during sleep, making the passage large enough for the needed volume of air to travel without hindrance, preventing snoring and sleep apnea. Since snoring appliances temporarily change the position of a patient’s lower jaw during sleep, it is important that they are followed closely by a certified orthodontist, to ensure there are no changes occurring to the bite. Periodic adjustments of the snoring appliance are necessary to maintain a proper bite, while monitoring your improvement in sleep.
Sometimes snoring is due to a more serious condition than simply having a lower jaw that falls back during sleep. Some patients with snoring/sleep apnea have an abnormally small lower jaw, which does not allow for proper exchange of air during sleep. Patients with this condition often require a combination of orthodontic treatment and jaw surgery. We have treated several patients in our office using this combined form of treatment, and the resulting change in every patient’s quality of life has been absolutely amazing. Once we have aligned your teeth for a short period, the surgical procedure is preformed by an oral surgeon. The oral surgeon moves the lower jaw into a more forward position. By moving the lower jaw forward, the airway is significantly enlarged and the tongue will now occupy a more forward position, so that it may not fall back and block the airway from proper exchange of air/breathing.
Patients who have been previously diagnosed with sleep apnea by a physician or ENT Doctor, are typically provided with a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine. This machine artificially keeps the airway open during sleep, by continuously pumping air through a mask that is placed over the nose/mouth. Surgical re-positioning of the lower jaw into a more forward position actually provides correction of the problems source by permanently enlarging the airway and moving the tongue forward. We have been involved in the treatment of several patients with sleep apnea that have had the unpleasant experience of sleeping every night with a CPAP machine, following combined orthodontic treatment and surgical advancement of their jaw(s), every single patient has done away with the use of their CPAP machine, while experiencing a dramatic improvement in the overall quality of their life!
If you or a family member suffers from snoring or sleep apnea, please
contact us today for a consultation, as we may be able to make a dramatic improvement in the overall quality of your life.
Please note, it is your responsibility to discuss all risks and benefits of surgical jaw treatment for sleep apnea with both an oral surgeon and an ENT/otolaryngologist physician prior to surgery, so that you may make an informed decision to proceed.
