The term “sleep apnea” refers to the condition in which a person’s breathing stops during sleep. (Apnea: Greek, “without breath.”) The condition can be mild, moderate or severe.

With sleep apnea, breathing stops many – sometimes hundreds – of times per night and interferes with deep sleep. It can leave you feeling tired upon awakening. Another characteristic of sleep apnea is snoring, which can also disturb the sleep of others!

Dr. Jayne has been recognized by the National Consumer Advisory Board as one of “America’s Best Dentists 2014.” She is knowledgeable in treating mild to moderate sleep apnea with effective therapy that does not involve wearing a mask.

• Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) – is the most common form. It occurs when the soft tissues at the back of the throat relax during sleep, blocking the airway.
• Central Sleep Apnea –  when the nervous system fails to signal the muscles that control breathing.
• Mixed Sleep Apnea – is a combination of obstructive and central sleep apnea.

These symptoms are often present with those suffering from any degree of sleep apnea:

• Waking up with headaches
• Loud snoring that can wake you up and also others
• Waking up suddenly with a choking feeling
• Lack of energy during the day even after a full night of “sleep”
• Drowsy driving
• Moodiness & irritability

The traditional therapy for sleep apnea has been CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure). CPAP requires wearing a mask connected to a tube that continuously pumps air into your airway while you sleep. This method is sometimes found to be intolerable by some people who could not sleep comfortably with a mask on. There are those who are not good candidates for CPAP.

In these cases, the American Academy for Sleep Medicine recommends dental devices for mild to moderate sleep apnea. Dr. Jayne uses impressions of your teeth and designs an oral appliance (like a mouth guard) that is custom made for your mouth. The appliance gently adjusts the position of your jaw so that your airway stays open while you sleep – giving you a night of refreshing, deep sleep!

Many people who couldn’t tolerate CPAP therapy have achieved positive results from using oral appliances to control sleep apnea, while also being able to sleep much more comfortably.

A deep, restful sleep goes a long way beyond just making you feel better. Studies have indicated that some of the health benefits of adequate sleep can include:

• Reduces stress & anxiety
• Helps balance metabolism for a healthier weight
• Less fatigue & more stamina
• Better reaction time – less mistakes and accidents
• Sharper learning and memory skills
• Helpful in reducing inflammation
• Helpful in supporting the immune system

Snoring is the vibrating sound that happens when the soft tissues fall back against the back of your throat and block your airway. Snoring can be a sign of sleep apnea, but a person could suffer from snoring without having sleep apnea.

If you snore, Dr. Jayne can recommend testing for sleep apnea and if appropriate, prescribe a dental device to treat it. Whether or not your snoring is related to sleep apnea, Dr. Jayne can fit you with an oral appliance that will effectively stop the snoring by slightly pushing the lower jaw forward and downward. This leads to a much more restful sleep – without snoring!