Sleep apnea is a medical condition in which individuals suffer loss of breath and have episodes of loud snoring during sleep. Since this condition causes you to wake up repeatedly all night long, you might be feeling tired during the day. So even if you believe to be slumbering peacefully, in reality you can wake 50 or more times per hour when suffering from chronic snoring.
There are several forms of treatment available to correct this condition, and dentistry can help in many ways. Sleep apnea can be treated with an oral appliance designed to reposition the jaw and move the tongue away from the back of the throat to reduce the potential for obstruction. This treatment is a great option before moving on to more complicated breathing devices or surgery.
Common knowledge dictates that a good night’s sleep is crucial for good health, but most people don’t know how important it is. Sleep apnea is a serious condition that can even develop fatal health problems such as strokes, heart attacks and hypertension.