Snoring & Sleep Apnea Treatment

Snoring is caused by a narrowing or blocking of the airway that disrupts the airflow and causes the soft palate and tissues of the throat to vibrate. The narrower the airway becomes, the louder the snoring. In addition to being annoying to those around you, snoring can also disrupt your own sleep and cause fatigue, difficulty concentrating or headaches.

Sleep apnea is a disorder in which a patient experiences one or more pauses in breathing or shallow breaths during sleep. The sleep disruption caused by sleep apnea can negatively impact your quality of sleep, leaving you tired and irritable. This can also lead to long term damage and systemic disease.

Mild sleep apnea can often be treated with lifestyle changes such as losing weight, positional therapy, or wearing an appliance to help maintain an open airway while you sleep.

Dr. Cariappa is one of the few diplomates of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine in the area. This means that she is one of the few dentists qualified to provide oral appliance therapy to patients for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea.

Many patients that suffer from either sleep apnea or snoring may be able to find relief using a custom removable oral Appliance which adjusts the position of the lower jaw and tongue during sleep. Our office can create a personalized Mandibular Advancement Device for you to wear during sleep in order to maintain an open, unobstructed airway when worn while sleeping. Please be sure to bring your oral appliance in to your appointments to make sure it is fitting properly.