Quieter nights for you and the person next to you
Snoring can strain relationships and leave everyone tired. A custom oral appliance can quiet snoring by keeping your airway open while you sleep.
What causes snoring?
Snoring is the sound of air vibrating soft tissue as it squeezes through a narrowed airway. When you sleep, the muscles of your throat and tongue relax. If the airway narrows, air speeds up and the tissues flutter, producing that familiar rumble.
Common contributors include sleeping on your back, nasal congestion, alcohol before bed, extra weight around the neck, and the natural shape of your jaw and airway.
Is it just snoring, or sleep apnea?
Not everyone who snores has sleep apnea, but loud, frequent snoring is one of its most common signs. Snoring with pauses, gasps or choking sounds, or snoring paired with daytime sleepiness, deserves a closer look. Because the two can sound alike, Dr. Lester typically recommends a sleep test before treating snoring, so a more serious problem is not missed.
Illustration: side view of the throat during sleep. Tap to compare.
How an oral appliance stops snoring
The same device used to treat sleep apnea is also very effective for snoring. A custom-fitted appliance holds your lower jaw slightly forward, which brings your tongue forward and opens the space at the back of your throat. With more room, air moves smoothly instead of vibrating the tissues.
- Custom-made from impressions of your teeth
- Comfortable, slim and easy to wear
- Adjustable for the best balance of comfort and quiet
- Far more precise than over-the-counter "boil and bite" guards
Why not a store-bought snore guard? Generic devices are not fitted to your bite, can be bulky, and are not adjustable. A poorly fitting device may cause jaw or bite problems. A custom appliance is designed and monitored by a dentist trained in dental sleep medicine.