Hagaon Hacham Mordechai Eliyahu z.s.l.

By: Jacques Doueck D D S

Forty percent of the adult population snores, and almost everyone who has sleep apnea snores. Sleep apnea is a potentially life-threatening condition that often goes undiagnosed.

It can be difficult to tell the difference between snoring and sleep apnea. Sleepiness, multiple awakenings and daytime fatigue are common symptoms of sleep apnea. Only proper testing by a sleep center can definitively tell the difference.

Failure to get a full night’s rest due to sleep apnea has effects beyond the already well known auto accidents resulting from sleepiness. Apnea is associated with an

increase in strokes and heart attacks, high blood pressure and morning headaches, heart failure, daytime fatigue, dementia, memory problems, obesity, diabetes and depression.

Besides surgery, there are four ways to treat sleep apnea:

1. A CPAP machine is made up of a mask, tubing and an oxygen generator that forces air into the lungs. CPAP stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. Although this is very effective in treating apnea, it is uncomfortable to wear.
2. A Snore guard bite applianceis designed to move your lower jaw forward, allowing your tongue and jaw to create more breathing room in the back of your throat. The problem with these appliances is that they strain your jaw, creating TMJ (jaw joint) discomfort.Oral appliances are very much like orthodontic retainers or sport/night guards in the way they cover your teeth.
3. The AveoTSD(Tongue Stabilizing Device) directly suctions onto the tongue, preventing it from falling back into the throat, and increasing airway volume. At first it looked to me like a pacifier. Your tongue fits in the medical-grade Dupont silicone. The AveoTSD is the only anti-snoring device that is indicated for anyone, including those who wear full dentures.
4. Full Breath appliance –  I like to call this the Rolls Royce of appliances. Partly because it costs about $3,500, but mainly because the Full Breath appliance does not create TMJ (jaw joint) discomfort and it doesn’t require you to sleep with your tongue in a pacifier. The device works by pressing down on the back of your tongue with a custom fitted plastic bar.

For those who suffer from snoring or sleep apnea, a well suited sleep appliance can reenergize your life. Save yourself from another sleepless night by speaking to your dentist or doctor about solutions to snoring and sleep apnea today.