Sierra Centre - Snoring Cessation

Snoring is the vibration of respiratory structures and the resulting sound is due to obstructed air movement during breathing while sleeping. In some cases the sound may be soft, but in other cases, it can be rather loud and quite unpleasant and caused by one of the following:

• Throat weakness, causing the throat to close during sleep
• Malpositioned jaw, often caused by tension in the muscles
• Fat gathering in and around the throat
• Obstruction in the nasal passageway
• The tissues at the top of airways touching each other causing vibrations
• Relaxants such as alcohol or drugs relaxing throat muscles
• Sleeping on one's back, which may result in the tongue dropping to the back of the mouth.

During sleep, many people suffer from problem breathing ranging from mild snoring to a potentially dangerous condition called sleep apnea.

What causes snoring?

Muscles in soft tissues in a snorer's throat and mouth relax during sleep, making the breathing airway smaller. The space becomes constricted and the speed of air flowing through it increases, causing soft tissue to vibrate.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Several simple actions may help you to stop snoring, including losing weight, avoiding alcohol, sleeping on your side, using a humidifier or .getting fitted for a sleep appliance. SomnoDent is a custom made oral device comprised of upper and lower dental plates that snap in place in the mouth. Each palate has a unique, patented fin coupling component to maintain correct jaw alignment and air flow while you sleep. With SomnoDent, you can maintain normal mouth opening and closing making it both more comfortable and effective. Read More... (PDF, 411kb)

If you feel tired, run down or just not your regular self, come see a sleep dentist
at Sierra and learn how to get the rest you need!

Sierra Centre - Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is characterized by a series of brief but numerous involuntary breathing pauses which occur during sleep. In obstructive sleep apnea, air passage is blocked during sleep by the person's tongue and other soft tissues. Many people with sleep apnea are snorers. As soft tissues block the airway, the body has to work harder to pull air in, and the increase in pressure can make the upper airway collapse so air cannot flow at all into the lungs, although the body's efforts to breathe continue.

Breathing stops for a period of several seconds to well over a minute, and the levels of oxygen in the blood may drop during these episodes. When a person's blood oxygen levels fall too low, the brain wakes the person up enough to tighten the muscles around the upper airways to open them enough for air to flow through again. This arousal is so brief that the person is likely to not even remember it. The repeated arousals of these breathing pauses lead to awakenings is their bodies try to breathe, People with sleep apnea find it impossible to enjoy a night of deep, restorative sleep. Sufferers often feel sleepy during the day and their concentration and daytime performance usually suffer significantly.

In addition to excessive daytime sleepiness, studies show that sleep apnea patients are much more likely to suffer from heart problems (heart attack, congestive heart failure, hypertension), strokes, as well as having a higher incidence of work related and driving related accidents

Trained Sierra sleep dentists can assess if you are a candidate for SomnoDent, as a custom made oral device comprised of upper and lower dental plates that snap in place in the mouth. Each palate has a unique, patented fin coupling component to maintain correct jaw alignment and air flow while you sleep. With SomnoDent, you can maintain normal mouth opening and closing making it both more comfortable and effective. Read More... (PDF, 411kb)

Book an appointment now & get the rest you need!

Oral Appliance Therapy

Oral Appliance Therapy involves the selection, design, fitting and use of a custom designed oral appliance that is worn during sleep. This appliance then helps to maintain an opened, unobstructed airway in the throat.. Oral appliances work in several ways:

• Repositioning the lower jaw, tongue, soft palate and uvula
• Stabilizing the lower jaw and tongue
• Increasing the muscle tone of the tongue

 Initiation of oral appliance therapy can take from several weeks to several months to complete. Your dentist will continue to monitor your treatment and evaluate the response of your teeth and jaws.

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) is pressurized air generated from a bedside machine. The air is delivered through a tube, connected to a mask, covering the nose. The force of the pressurized air splints the airway open. The CPAP opens the airway like air into a balloon; when air is blown into the balloon, it opens and gets wider. This is how CPAP clears the airway.

Sierra Centre - Unsatisfying Sleep

So what are the symptoms of "Unsatisfying Sleep"? There are many symptoms of sleep apnea such as:

• Irritableness
• Loud snoring
• Pauses in breathing
• Extreme drowsiness
• Increased difficulty in concentrating
• Sore achy muscles in the morning

Did any of these describe your current situation? Then you need to know that:

• An estimated 30 million or 1 in 8 people snore.
• Approximately 18 million people suffer from sleep apnea.
• 28 percent of men over the age of 65 suffer from sleep apnea.
• Up to 50 percent of sleep apnea patients have high blood pressure.
• Risk for heart attack and stroke may also increase in those with sleep apnea.
• Nearly 60 percent of Americans suffer from daytime sleepiness, a side effect of sleep apnea.
• Snoring is improved and often eliminated in almost 100 percent of patients who commit to using their oral appliance.

Why should I be concerned about snoring and sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea is the most common sleep disorder, affecting nearly 1 out of every 8 individuals. While the sound of snoring is harmless, it is also the sign of a more serious medical condition known as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). OSA occurs when the tongue and soft tissues fall back into the throat during sleep, completely blocking the airway.

Not surprisingly, more and more studies are beginning to show a correlation between sleep apnea and attention deficit disorder (ADD). Some experts believe that most people who suffer from sleep apnea also exhibit ADD. Attention deficit disorder (ADD) is characterized by an inability to concentrate in social situations like school, behavior problems, mood swings, and lower performance in daily tasks such as school work, chores, or other situations where focus and concentration are essential. While usually diagnosed in childhood, later in life adults are also identified as suffering from the disease. Obstructive sleep apnea has also been associated with cardiovascular problems as well as daytime sleepiness.

Sierra Centre - Bruxism (Tooth Grinding)

Bruxism, also known as Tooth Grinding This occurs when you grind or clench your teeth during sleep. Clenching and grinding both can have a negative impact on your teeth. Symptoms of bruxism are:

"Bruxism - Teeth Grinding"
(Running Time 2:10) (Size 7.28mb)
• A sore, tired jaw
• Difficulty in opening and closing your mouth
• Sensitive teeth
• Earaches or pain in your jaw joint

Bruxism can damage your teeth and cause jaw discomfort or pain. It also can briefly disturb your sleep and wake up your bed partner.

A Sierra your dentist can fit you with a mouth guard that you wear during sleep. This will protect your teeth and reduce the grinding noise.

However, the Dentists at Sierra are not just trained in bruxism and grinding. They also may be able to help you with snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. These problems involve a partial or complete blockage of your airway and can by symptoms of other health issues.