Category: Snoring

Woman canâ€™t get enough sleep as she annoyed by snoring husband. Snoring can cause health problem i.e. insomnia & sleep apnea. Snorer need snore treatment. Sleepless & relationship problem concept.

Snoring

Why Is a Snoring Treatment Necessary?

Post author By Dr. Steven Syrop
Post date November 4, 2022
No Comments on Why Is a Snoring Treatment Necessary?

When there is an obstruction in the airway during sleep that results in loud sounds, snoring treatment from a dentist may be beneficial. Nearly everyone snores at some point, but for some individuals, it is a chronic problem. Although surgery may be recommended for severe cases, there are also oral devices that can reduce the disruptive sound and help you and your partner sleep better.

Signs of a sleep disorder

Obstructive sleep apnea is a disorder, characterized by deep snores followed by periods when breathing stops or nearly stops, which may cause sleepers to wake up with a gasp. When this breathing pattern occurs throughout the night, sleep is light and sporadic. Additional symptoms include the following:

Chest pain in the middle of the night
Waking in the morning with a sore throat or headache
Difficulty concentrating
High blood pressure
Excessive sleepiness during the day
Chronic nasal conditions

Doctors may wish to speak with an individual, such as a partner or parent, if the issue occurs in children. Questions may include whether breathing stops at night or if there are behavioral problems at school.

Causes of snoring

There are four stages of sleep in each cycle, and most people go through four or five cycles per night. During the deeper sleep stages, soft tissues in the upper respiratory tract may vibrate, causing loud sounds. The anatomy of an individual’s mouth may also contribute to snoring. In the upper airway, the adenoids, nasal septum, tonsils, uvula, inferior nasal turbinates or base of the tongue may cause blockages.

Sleep deprivation and alcohol consumption before bedtime can also contribute to snoring, as both result in the throat muscles relaxing to the point that airways are obstructed.

Methods of diagnosis

In addition to reviewing the signs and symptoms, the doctor may request an imaging test. Thanks to technology, there are several options available. Computerized tomography, MRIs and x-rays can be used to check the structure of the airways for issues, such as a deviated septum.

Participation in a sleep study may also be recommended. Depending on the snoring severity, some studies may be conducted at home. In polysomnography, individuals are connected to a variety of sensors and observed overnight.

Devices for snoring treatment

Poor sleep impacts all aspects of a person’s health and daily life. OSA is a risk factor for stroke and cardiac disease. A dentist may recommend oral appliance therapy as a treatment for individuals with mild to moderate OSA.

MAD

Worn when sleeping, a mandibular advancement device fits like an orthodontic retainer or sports mouth guard. It supports the jaw, keeping in a forward position to help maintain open upper airways. This type of device is custom made to fit each patient’s mouth and is especially beneficial for back sleepers.

CPAP

A continuous positive airway pressure machine blows air down a patient’s throat with continuous pressure, keeping the airways open during sleep. This device consists of a mask that fits over the mouth and nose, a motor that blows the air and a tube that connects the two components.

Conclusion

Before trying oral devices or conducting sleep studies for snoring treatment, a doctor may recommend lifestyle changes. These may include losing weight, changing sleeping positions and reducing sedatives.

If you or someone you know is experiencing persistent or acute pain in the face or jaw, we invite you to set up a consultation with one of our Orofacial Pain specialists in the NYC metropolitan area. Our office locations and contact information are below.

Snoring

When a Snoring Treatment May be Necessary

Post author By Dr. Steven Syrop
Post date February 10, 2022
No Comments on When a Snoring Treatment May be Necessary

Snoring can be an embarrassing problem that affects both you and your partner’s sleep quality at night; still, the good news is there are many simple snoring treatment without resorting to surgery or other drastic measures. Using a treatment device, such as a mouth guard or nasal strips, is a great way to block off your airways so they can’t vibrate during sleep. Learn more about this treatment and why it’s necessary for this article on three reasons to use a snoring device.

It’s a health issue

Many people don’t consider snoring to be a serious health problem, but it can be. Aside from disrupting sleep for everyone in your household, it may also increase your risk of heart disease and strokes. That’s why even if you’re not bothered by snoring yourself, you should still urge others to seek out treatment; snorers put their health at risk. Remind them that effective treatments exist that can cure or drastically reduce their symptoms—and improve everyone’s quality of life in the process. Being consistent about delivering these reminders will help ensure your loved one gets help while there’s still time to fix things.

The importance of treating snoring doesn’t stop there. It can be a warning sign of more serious health problems, such as sleep apnea. This sleep disorder is defined by brief interruptions in breathing during sleep and can be very dangerous. If your loved one’s snoring increases throughout the night or stops abruptly, they should see their doctor as soon as possible to ensure that they don’t have sleep apnea and take appropriate action. Even if your loved one already has an effective treatment plan for their snoring, remind them to follow it regularly and bring any concerns about their symptoms to their doctor’s attention right away.

It saves your relationship

If you snore, there’s a pretty good chance that your significant other or roommate isn’t getting enough sleep at night, which can lead to all sorts of relationship issues. If you’re suffering from chronic sinusitis and need help with treatment for snoring, seek help from an otolaryngologist. While doctors and remedies may vary by region and state, there are plenty of solutions out there to relieve snoring so you can both get a better night’s sleep. Whether at home or in an office setting, we can do everything we can to give you relief from snoring without any complications.

How your dentist can help

If you are searching for a snoring treatment to bring peace and quiet back into your bedroom, don’t forget to ask your dentist for help. Dentists provide oral appliances that can position the mouth so that snoring is reduced or stopped altogether. If you’ve tried other solutions, reach out to your dentist to see if they can help with stopping your snoring once and for all.

29976177 - illustration of an irritated wife covering her ears while her husband snores

Snoring Is Not Funny

Post author By Donald Tanenbaum DDS MPH - Board-Certified Orofacial Pain Specialist at New York TMJ & Orofacial Pain
Post date August 8, 2018
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For years snoring has prompted humorous cartoon depictions of bed partners sorting out their different views of the problem and hilarious videos revealing what the non-snoring bed partner will resort to in order to get a good night’s sleep.

The problem with snoring, however, is that both parties – the snorer and snoree (what I call the person who is forced to listen to the noise) are ultimately impacted. Sometimes severely.

Let’s start with the snorer. Although snoring was once regarded as merely an annoyance, research now shows that it is actually the result of airway turbulence, often accompanied by obstructive sleep apnea or upper airway resistance syndrome. Both conditions cause sleep arousals and lead to less than refreshing sleep and excessive daytime drowsiness.

Snoring Is Much More Than An Annoyance

People who have obstructive sleep apnea experience episodes (sometimes lots of them) when their breathing completely stops while they’re asleep. Breathing only resumes when a drop in blood oxygen wakes up the brain and causes them to take a breath. This repetitive cycle of stopping breathing and loss of oxygen to the brain often leads to injury and inflammation in the lining of the blood vessels and cardiac tissue, which makes snorers more susceptible to heart attacks and strokes.

And if that’s not enough, snorers with obstructive sleep apnea airway problems are more likely to have gastrointestinal reflux (heartburn) and experience brain matter degeneration, which is one of the causes of Alzheimer’s disease.

Sadly, the majority of snorers do not realize that their snoring is more than just an annoyance and, therefore, never even think to seek care. The link between snoring and cardiac problems, reflux, and brain degeneration is proof that it’s much more than a social annoyance. Plus, even if the snorer does not have an airway problem, research shows that the vibrational trauma created by snoring will eventually lead to tissue floppiness in the pharynx, which leads to more snoring noise, combined with injury to the nerves that help maintain airway health.

It’s obvious that snoring carries serious health risks for the snorer. But what about the poor snoree?

The Majority Of Snorees Are Women

The majority of snorers are men and, therefore, women are the majority of snorees. Countless women suffer a considerable toll due to the disrupted sleep caused every night by their snoring bed partner. And it’s loud. A snorer’s roar can reach the decibel levels of a construction jackhammer. Imagine trying to sleep with a jackhammer being operated in your bedroom.

For the snoree, constant sleep arousals can lead to chronic muscle and joint pain (TMJ problems included), headaches, daytime sleepiness, and cognitive impairment – to name just a few. In addition, we have evidence that fragmented sleep with multiple arousals can also be responsible for tooth grinding when sleeping.

CPAP Is Not The Only Option

Putting this all together makes a real case for snorers to realize that by not seeking care they’re going way beyond simply being insensitive to their bed partners. Happily, medical professionals now have many ways to treat snoring including oral appliances, which are an extremely helpful therapy for snoring and obstructive apnea. CPAP is not the only option!

So, if you’re a snorer it’s time to get help. Not only is it a smart decision for your health, it’s a smart decision for your relationship, too.

Is Your Sleep Apnea Appliance Working?

Snoring and obstructive sleep apnea are not only disruptive to your bed partner; they may also be the cause of many other illnesses. And as we have seen in the news recently, can result in deadly vehicle accidents. If you have opted to wear an oral appliance at night for snoring and/or sleep apnea (as opposed to using a CPAP machine) you may have noticed that it’s not working as well as it did when it was first fitted by your dentist. So, how do you know if your sleep apnea appliance is working?

John: A Case Study

My patient John is a 45-year old who had chosen to wear a sleep appliance to spare his wife from the disrupted sleep she was experiencing as “he snored like a jackhammer.” However, after a period of time his snoring (and consequently his wife’s nighttime annoyance) had reappeared.

John came to my office and we sat down to talk. He confessed that he had gained a whopping 15 pounds over nine months, so it wasn’t surprising that the appliance was no longer effective. I subsequently corrected the fit of his appliance (basically moving it slightly forward), which took care of his nightly jackhammer snoring (and probably saved his marriage!). But, another problem developed.

John began experiencing morning jaw tension and an awkward bite, which lasted for about an hour. Another visit to the office and a bit more adjustment took care of the issue. Now John is sleeping peacefully and not worried about a TMJ problem. So, if you use an oral appliance to manage sleep apnea/snoring, and your weight varies you should be going back to your dentist to reset the appliance

How To Determine If Your Oral Appliance Is Working

For those snoring without sleep apnea, your bed partner feedback will certainly alert you as to when the appliance is not working, but how do you know if you live alone? If you sleep alone and are wearing an appliance to protect the tissues in the back of your throat from the consequences of snoring over time, monitoring is key.

How To Monitor Snoring and Apnea With Technology

There are a number of mobile apps that can monitor your snoring at night. The best ones are SnoreLab and SnoringU.

For those with obstructive sleep apnea (with or without a bed partner) the absolute best way to know if your appliance is working properly is to use a pulse oximeter on two consecutive nights. A pulse oximeter will measure your blood oxygen levels while you are sleeping. If there is less than optimal oxygen your blood, then your appliance needs to be adjusted. The pulse oximeter can be purchased online or provided by your dentist.

Even more information can be obtained through using a HST (home sleep test), which is often covered under insurance plans and obtained through a sleep clinic or your dentist.

Important: technologies such as FitBit and JawBone cannot be used for monitoring oral appliances and Basis Peak and Microsoft Band, though sensing body motion and monitoring heart rate, also come up short.

The message is clear…don’t assume that once fitted, your oral appliance will always maintain its effectiveness. It’s necessary to have it monitored at least once, preferably twice, every year.

Dr. Donald Tanenbaum is a specialist with offices in New York City and Long Island, NY. He is uniquely qualified to diagnose and treat problems associated with facial pain, TMJ, headaches and sleep apnea.

Tags Case Study, Sleep Apnea, Snoring

Sleep Apnea Snoring

An Implant for Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

There has been a lot in the news lately about implants as a way to treat sleep apnea. As a dentist involved in helping patients with their snoring and obstructive sleep apnea, my biggest challenge has been figuring out strategies to keep the tongue from falling back into the oropharyngeal region. Once this happens, airflow is compromised, leading to diminished levels of oxygen in the blood and frequent arousals while sleeping.

As a result, these patients never feel rested, experience daytime sleepiness, and often underperform at school or in the workplace. Others develop significant heart-related problems or even fall asleep behind the wheel with tragic outcomes. Moreover, for patients who have small lower jaw, large tonsils, fat uvulas, and long sloping and floppy soft palates: nighttime airway compromise is a big problem (even if tongue size is normal!). For obese patients with large necks, fat tongues, and weak tongue muscle strength, the problem is further compounded.

Treatment over the years has included weight loss, airway surgery, CPAP (essentially blowing air through the obstruction), and oral oral devices to prevent the tongue from falling backwards while sleeping (tongue retaining devices) or designed to actively keep the jaw forward, carrying the tongue in the process (mandibular positioning devices). Tongue retaining devices that pull the tongue forward past the lips have also been used with variable levels of success.

On the horizon, however, is a new kind of implant that may be an alternative treatment option for those with obstructive sleep apnea. As reported in the January 9th issue of the New England Journal of Medicine this implant will serve as a pacemaker of sorts, delivering electrical impulses to the nerve that is responsible for maintaining tone in the muscles that keep the tongue in a forward posture.

Tests conducted to date found that “these impulses reduced nightly sleep apnea events by about 68 percent, according to the results of the one year clinical trial. The technology also decreased by 70 percent the number of times that a person’s blood oxygen level dropped due to sleep apnea. Not surprisingly, patients reported a 40 percent improvement in their ability to stay awake during the day.”

According to new reports that reference the Journal article “the device operates by having an electrode run from the pacemaker to the hypoglossal nerve located under the tongue. Another lead wire runs down to the muscles between the ribs of the chest and keeps track of the person’s breathing. As the patient breathes in and out, the pacemaker sends electrical impulses to the nerve, which causes the person’s tongue to move slightly forward and their upper airway to contract open. Both movements keep the airway from collapsing.”

“It’s a unique and promising new treatment,” said study co-author Dr. Ryan Soose, director of the division of sleep surgery of Pittsburg Medical Center. The surgery is minimally invasive, and patients typically were back to regular activity within in a day or two.”

Though more research is needed, this new option will be a welcome addition to the treatment options that are currently available.

Dr. Donald Tanenbaum is a specialist with offices in New York City and Long Island, NY. He is uniquely qualified to diagnose and treat facial pain associated with jaw problems, TMJ, referred pain, nerve pain, and migraines. Find out more at www.nytmj.com.

Tags Dr Donald Tanenbaum, implant for obstructive sleep apnea, implants for sleep apnea

Nightguards & Oral Appliances Sleep Apnea Snoring

Who is Monitoring Your Snoring or Sleep Apnea Appliance?

Based on the number of emails I weekly receive advertising courses for dentists to learn how to make and provide oral appliances for snoring and sleep apnea I can only assume that an increasing number of adults are receiving these devices. Though these devices can provide great benefit socially (allowing bed partners to sleep in the same room) and medically by reducing the risk of heart related problems, once inserted these devices must be monitored.

Why You Should Always Monitor Oral Appliances

1. Is the oral appliance doing what it is intended to do? For the simple snoring patient the answer is easy. For the apnea patient, the answer is a guess unless a follow up sleep study (home test or laboratory) is done. Just the cessation or reduction of snoring may not mean that the apnea condition has been adequately addressed. The dentist who puts in the device must direct the follow up process.

1. These appliances can cause tooth shift, opening spaces between teeth leading to food traps, and lead to movement of front teeth that were straightened with braces. These problems can be eliminated or minimized with follow-up visits.

1. In approximately 15 percent of patients that wear these appliances over one year, there is a good chance that a bite change will occur not allowing the back teeth to hit as they once did. Heavy contacts are put on the front teeth with likely consequences such as chipping and reduced mobility. Follow-up visits can not only prevent this from happening but if noticed, modifications can be made with regard to how often the appliance is worn and where the position is set.

In some people these appliances can lead to jaw problems such as muscle or joint pain, joint noises, and even limitations in jaw motion and functional abilities. Since the jaw is an orthopedic system, healing will then be dependent on making appropriate changes, which can only be determined by follow-up visits.

The Take Home Message About Monitoring Oral Appliances

If your dentist is not insisting on follow-up visits, speak up and get back on his or her schedule. Also, these appliances do not last forever! Replacement is usually necessary after 3 -5 years based on normal wear and tear.

Tags Dr. Tanenbaum, follow-up visits oral appliances, oral appliance for sleep apnea, oral appliance for snoring, Oral Appliances

Sleep Apnea Snoring

Snorers! Now A Sleep Study Can Be Done in Your Own Home

Snoring, long considered to be no more than a social nuisance, is now seen by the medical community as a possible sign of more serious health conditions. In order, however, to determine whether a patient’s snoring indicates a more serious disorder, like obstructive sleep apnea, overnight sleep studies are critical to obtain. The problem of course is that many patients are resistant to spending the night at a Sleep Clinic, and after hearing nightmare stories from friends and family that have spent restless nights lying awake in a sleep lab, refuse to schedule an appointment.

It is not uncommon therefore to be confronted by this familiar story. The patient, a man in his mid-thirties or forties, married, with children has a history of snoring. With some gain of weight his nightly snoring has become so disruptive that his wife routinely leaves the bedroom halfway through the night. On vacations, it’s necessary to reserve two rooms instead of one just because of the snoring. Basically, dad disturbs the sleep of the entire family.

Upset and exhausted, the wife finally convinces her husband to see his physician, which he does, though reluctantly. The physician then suggests a Sleep Study, which involves a night away from home at a Sleep Center. This is where the problems really start as men often refuse to spend the night away from home, particularly since they don’t even think they have a problem and deny that they snore in the first place. So, the snoring goes on, the family suffers and more importantly the snorer may be at risk for health consequences down the road.

But, there is good news for snorers and their families. In the past 10 years advances in technology have brought sleep testing equipment to the bedroom. At-home Sleep Study equipment has been proven to provide reliable data and is currently a service that has been embraced by medical insurance carriers. In fact home studies are often being required prior to the more formal and traditional study done in a sleep lab. Although physicians have traditionally been thought of as the primary health care provider to advise patients with snoring and more serious airway problems (like apnea), dentists have begun to play a critical role in terms of assessment, and more importantly in motivating patients to pursue comprehensive evaluations inclusive of overnight sleep testing.

What then would indicate that a home study is needed?

In order for your doctor to ascertain if you are a candidate for a Sleep Study, he or she will ask you questions about your health, and how you routinely feel during the day and on arising in the morning. Pen and pencil questionnaires may also be given to you which ask questions about:

Daytime sleepiness
General fatigue levels
Frequency of sleep arousal
Morning headaches
Irritability in the morning or daytime moodiness
Problems concentrating during the day
GERD
Hypertension

If your answers indicate that a Sleep Study is recommended, your doctor will set in motion a process to pre-certify the home study through your insurance company.

The testing equipment will either be obtained at a local sleep center or it will be shipped directly to your home. The equipment is easy to use and very self -explanatory. You will need to use it for only one night, then return it so that the data can be read and interpreted by a board-certified sleep physician. A report is then sent to your doctor who will then be able to make a recommendation based upon the findings.

In my practice, depending on what the Sleep Study indicates, recommendations for additional consultation or treatment will follow. Snoring that does not carry with it other health concerns can be treated with an oral appliance. Apnea if present can be treated in a number of ways depending on the severity identified on the overnight study. Oral appliances certainly are one option that can be explored.

The goal: Healthy airways and maybe save a few marriages along the way!

To learn more about Oral Appliances for Sleep Apena Treatment, consider reading some of my other recent blogs:

Tags Dr Donald Tanenbaum, Sleep Apnea, sleep apnea treament, sleep studies at home, sleep study, sleep study at home, Snoring, snoring treatment

Sleep Apnea Snoring

Treatment for Sleep Apnea May Assist in Weight Loss

While on a recent airplane flight to Chicago, I was unfortunately sitting across from a young man around thirty years old who was sleeping fitfully. From his outward appearance he was not overly tall, likely about 5’11” but clearly overweight particularly in the midsection.

With each breath came a snoring (or roaring) sound accompanied occasionally by a gasp for air. It was clear that this young gentleman had the appearance of obstructive sleep apnea and one can only wonder about his future if he did not address this problem with weight loss or medical intervention.

This scenario of young men and women snoring excessively is played out daily across America and the reason most of the time is obesity. Though there are many individuals that snore and develop obstructive sleep apnea, due to large tonsils and small airways due to thin necks and set back lower jaws, the problem is most commonly seen in overweight people.

For these individuals their calorie intake continues to exceed the calories they burn with the end result of fat being deposited in the neck and airway along with their midsections. Once established these patterns of weight gain are hard to reverse taking tremendous self control and discipline.

The end result unfortunately is not only a disturbed bed partner and daytime fatigue but new evidence suggests that a persistent obstructive sleep apnea condition can weaken the body’s immune system and increase the risk for cancer, as the results of a recent study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Management suggests.

What is also interesting is that once an obstructive sleep apnea problem has been established with the associated oxygen deficits while sleeping, there is also a disruption of the delicate hormonal balance that controls appetite and hunger patterns.

As a result it has been shown that moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea conditions often impair weight loss efforts despite caloric control and increased exercise. As a result of this reality, a great number of patients in our office are using oral appliance therapy while sleeping and as a result are breathing better and losing the weight that they were unable to previously shed. As an end result, their improved airway capacity will most certainly reduce their risk of cancer in the future and help all of us rest peacefully on our next airplane flight.

Tags Donald Tanenbaum, Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Sleep Apnea, Snoring

Sleep Apnea Snoring

Is Snoring Causing Your Child’s Behavioral Problems?

In very young children and even in infants, sleep-inhibiting breathing such as sleep apnea, mouth breathing, and even snoring may affect more than just a healthy night’s sleep.

According to a recent New York Times article, a study conducted by Karen Bonuck, PhD., at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Yeshiva University found that sleep-inhibiting breathing starting in infancy and early development is causing more than just problems with sleeping and staying awake during the day. This longitudinal study tested 11,000 children (controlling for future behavioral problems caused by events such as maternal smoking and prematurity) found a definitive link between children with sleeping problems during early development and later behavioral problems.

Sleep-inhibiting breathing leads to a poor night’s rest for your child potentially providing their brain with too little oxygen or too much carbon dioxide. This could seriously affect the prefrontal cortex area of the brain which is directly linked to behavioral decision-making.

Parents need to pay attention to their child’s breathing at night, even as early as infancy. A good night’s sleep restores what a developing brain has lost during the day.

If you feel your child is having a problem with snoring, sleep apnea, or mouth breathing, do not hesitate to contact me. Learn more about Dr. Tanenbaum here.

Tags Child Sleep Apnea, Child Snoring, Donald Tanenbaum, Sleep Apnea, Sleep Apnea Behavior, Snoring

Sleep Apnea Snoring

Snoring and Weight – Yes, There Is a Connection

My patients often ask me about the relationship between snoring and weight gain. Snoring undoubtedly can be a result of obesity, and obesity can also be a result of snoring. Confused?

Fact: Obesity Causes Snoring

More than 30% of Americans are considered obese, which is having a BMI (Body Mass Index) of 30 or more. Excess weight, regardless of its amount or origin, has many effects on your breathing, and in many cases causes snoring.

Though it may feel like all the weight you’ve gained is stored in one or two areas, extra layers of fat actually distribute themselves all over your body! When excess is deposited around the throat and neck area, it can narrow the airway, causing airflow turbulence leading to that annoying snoring sound. Also, as you gain weight, fat displaces muscle tissue and you lose muscle tone. As a result the soft palate and other soft tissue in the throat become floppy and snoring levels rise.

Causes of Snoring

Body fat around the throat and neck
Loss of muscle tone in the throat and soft palate region
Obstructed nasal passages
Large tongue

Sleep Apnea and Obesity

Along with snoring, individuals who are overweight are more likely to develop sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a serious medical condition characterized by periods during sleep when your breathing stops completely. As a result your brain is aroused and you wake up. Sometimes breathing can stop for up to 10 seconds! These stoppages in breathing can happen as many as 100 times a night leaving you exhausted in the morning and at risk for heart problems.

Fact: Snoring Causes Obesity

Believe it or not, snoring could actually be the cause of your weight gain or your inability to lose weight.

Nightly snoring prevents you from getting a good night’s sleep, leaving you feeling tired and run-down during the day. This lack of energy can keep you from going on that pre-work run or makes you choose the elevator over the stairs. The bottom line is that the weight you’ve gained is a result of sleep deprivation.

In addition in a University of Chicago study, young and healthy students were deprived of sleep for six nights in a row. The sleep deprivation resulted in measurable metabolic changes, one of which was increased hunger and appetite! As your body relies on the energy it gets from a good night’s sleep, if you aren’t getting enough sleep, your body will crave the energy from somewhere else: usually your refrigerator!

Clearly there is a direct relationship between snoring , a poor nights sleep and overeating!

Is There a Snoring Remedy?

If you’re an overweight snorer, the first step is to try to lose weight. But, if you are so sleep deprived that weight loss is impossible, other options are available. Thousands of suffering snorers (and their partners) have seen extraordinary results from using an oral appliance at night.

Using a custom-made oral appliance (mouth guard) overnight keeps your jaw forward, making air flow into your throat easier. Oral appliances can be used alone, with a CPAP mask, or as an alternate sleep device when using the CPAP becomes monotonous. Most people find that using an oral appliance greatly reduces and even eliminates their snoring.

Please share this article with anyone you care about (or his/her partner) who is dragging around during the day because of a snoring problem at night.

Dr. Donald Tanenbaum has been practicing in New York City and Long Island for over 20 years. He is uniquely qualified to diagnose and treat Sleep Apnea, facial pain, TMJ and TMD problems, muscle pain disorders, nerve pain disorders, tension headaches, and snoring. Learn more here

Tags Obesity, Oral Appliances, Sleep Apnea, Snoring

Sleep Apnea Snoring

Oral Appliance Saves Marriage

Post author By Donald Tanenbaum DDS MPH - Board-Certified Orofacial Pain Specialist at New York TMJ & Orofacial Pain
Post date August 24, 2011
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Recently, a 52 year old female patient told me about her experience with CPAP. She has a history of loud and disruptive snoring, which ultimately caused her husband to sleep in a separate bedroom.

After being evaluated at a sleep lab, she was diagnosed with mild to moderate Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and was prescribed a CPAP device. Thanks to the CPAP, her snoring was gone, but her husband still slept in the next room–he refused to get into bed with Darth Vadar. Now it was the cumbersome CPAP mask was causing her love life to suffer.

We made her an oral appliance to use nightly as an alternative to the CPAP. Presently, husband and wife are happy again.

Tags CPAP, Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Oral Appliances, OSA, Sleep Apnea, Snoring

Sleep Apnea Snoring

What is CPAP?

Post author By Donald Tanenbaum DDS MPH - Board-Certified Orofacial Pain Specialist at New York TMJ & Orofacial Pain
Post date August 22, 2011
No Comments on What is CPAP?

CPAP, or Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, is the primary therapy used to manage a condition called Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). As the airway narrows during sleep in individuals with OSA, the CPAP device is designed to provide a constant flow of compressed air under pressure to keep the airway open.

Often called the most effective nonsurgical treatment for obstructive sleep apnea, wearing a CPAP mask at night can improve the quality of sleep. Nightly use of the CPAP machine can also reduce high blood pressure, daytime sleepiness and snoring.

Though the CPAP machine can provide great results, it is NOT the right solution for everyone. As a matter of fact, many people find CPAP to be uncomfortable, preventing them from falling or staying asleep. As a result, according to the American Sleep Apnea Association, 60% of CPAP users discontinue use within one year because of discomfort or side effects.

Drawbacks of CPAP include:

• Can cause excessive dreaming and nightmares
• The mask often causes skin irritation
• The mask or nasal attachments often slip out of position while sleeping, diminishing the effectiveness of the device
• The airway hoses can wrap themselves around the wearers head
• The mask creates a sense of claustrophobia
• The machine is loud and can disrupt you or your sleep partner

Alternative to CPAP

An alternative to a CPAP machine is a custom fitted oral appliance which can be used to prevent snoring and to treat mild to moderate sleep apnea. Scientific studies have shown that properly constructed and adjusted oral appliances have the capacity to consistently facilitate nighttime air flow into the lungs thereby reducing the risk of stroke and high blood pressure developing in individuals with this medical condition.

An oral appliance works one of two ways. The first and most commonly utilized type of oral appliance repositions the jaw forward, carrying the tongue out of the airway . This type of appliance attaches directly to the teeth of the upper and lower dental arches. With the tongue forward the patency of the airway increases. The second type which is infrequently used is called a tongue retaining device. This appliance attaches only to the tongue and via a suction mechanism, the tongue is pulled forward out of the mouth. The end result is typically a sore tongue and a restless nights sleep.

The Perfect Marriage

As any one treatment over the course of many years can become monotonous we continue to advocate the use of both oral appliances and CPAP in patients that seek our advice. Whether a fixed schedule of alternating between the oral appliance and the CPAP is established or whether the oral appliance is just worn when traveling for work or on vacation, many of our patients have benefitted from this scenario. As over the long term oral appliances have been shown to have a better than 70% compliance they have therefore become an important component of managing OSA and socially disruptive snoring.

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Tags CPAP, Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Oral Appliances, Sleep Apnea, Snoring

Sleep Apnea Snoring

Beware! The Snore Patrol Has Arrived at Your Hotel

Recently, I read in the news that a large hotel chain is making a focused effort to identify which of their nightly guests’ snoring is disrupting the sleep of others. Corridor monitors are instructed to identify the sources of snores and to knock on the doors, waking the inhabitants from their sound, but disruptive, sleep. Once identified, these sound offenders will be asked to relocate to a different part of the hotel if they are planning to stay several days. The hotel is also installing soundproof walls and purchasing soundproof headboards to silence the symphony of snores.

To those of us involved in the world of sleep, snoring has been of long concern. Not only has snoring been cited as a top reason why partners sleep apart, but the disruptive character of snoring actually diminishes the quality and quantity of your partner’s sleep. Imagine sleeping next to someone who continued to talk all night long as you attempted to fall or stay asleep. Impossible? In fact, many snorers snore at a decibel level of normal conversation, while the snoring of some has been rated to be as loud as a jackhammer!

A Simple Oral Appliance May be the Solution to Your Snoring Problem

Fortunately, there is a great solution to snoring both at home and when traveling. Though being available for years, oral appliances have only just begun to get the attention they deserve. These devices, when made by a dentist, have been shown to stop or reduce snoring on a predictable basis and are extremely comfortable to wear. As approximately 30-50% of snorers have a condition called Obstructive Sleep Apnea, oral devices are often used to treat this serious medical problem. In many cases, oral appliances can be used instead of a facemask at night and offer a portable alternative to the facemask apparatus at home while traveling.

Oral appliances that stop snoring will allow you to once again sleep with your partner…and to help you avoid the embarrassment of being awakened by hotel Snore Police.

You can read the article I referred to above here.

Tags Crown Plaza, Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Oral Appliances, Sleep Apnea, Snore Patrol, Snoring

Sleep Apnea Snoring

Snoring and Sleep Apnea Treatment

Post author By Donald Tanenbaum DDS MPH - Board-Certified Orofacial Pain Specialist at New York TMJ & Orofacial Pain
Post date July 13, 2011
No Comments on Snoring and Sleep Apnea Treatment

While enjoying the July 4^th fireworks last week, I overheard a young girl observe:

“That sounds like Grandpa’s snoring when he lies on the couch after our Thanksgiving meal!”

This comment certainly raised a lot of laughter, but snoring is actually no laughing matter.

As the average weight of Americans continues to rise, and childhood obesity reaches crisis levels, snoring which is often a sign of a more serious condition, Obstructive Sleep Apnea, will have to be taken very seriously. Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) can be responsible for problems like high blood pressure, stroke, atherosclerosis, diabetes, ADHD, and personality changes associated with anxiety and depression. OSA affects the quality of sleep and causes sufferers to feel tired and unproductive throughout the day.

Snoring is often the first sign of obstructions in the airway during sleep. The obstructions can be in the nose, oral cavity and/or in the pharynx (throat). As airflow is restricted, turbulence occurs and causes snoring. With time, snoring actually damages the airway’s soft tissues and the nerve endings that maintain muscle tone. As muscles become weak and/or damaged it leads to more snoring and more obstruction, resulting in a restless night’s sleep and daytime exhaustion.

Fortunately, there are a number of treatments available for Sleep Apnea today. Here is a list of the most effective treatments that I use for my patients, depending on the severity of their symptoms.

Treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Weight Loss: Maybe not the easiest solution, but certainly worth the effort
Oral appliances such as bite plates (see examples here)
A face mask worn during sleep that provides oxygen flow (called CPAP)
Surgery: Depending on the location of the airway obstruction surgery may be considered to address the nasal passages, the size or shape of the soft palate, uvula and pharynx walls and or the position of the lower jaw

Snoring should not be taken lightly as it may be the first sign of a more serious problem—especially if the snoring reaches fireworks volume! If you are feeling unfocused and tired during the day, OSA may be the cause.

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