Sleep apnea occurs when an individual stops breathing while sleeping. This can happen a few times a night (mild apnea) to several hundred episodes a night (severe apnea). In most cases, an obstruction, usually the soft tissue in the back of the throat, and/or the tongue, restricts the airway. Sleep physicians generally prescribe a device known as CPAP to force air with positive pressure into the airway of an individual suffering from apnea. This device is strapped to your face and, for many people, is extremely cumbersome and uncomfortable.
Dr. Guerra has been very successful in treating mild sleep apnea and snoring with an appliance (SomnoDent®) that is fitted over your teeth. With this device, Dr. Roska can reposition your lower jaw in a more forward position, which opens the airway at the back of your mouth and throat. This appliance is self-adjusting and for many individuals provides a preferred alternative to CPAP. We work closely with sleep physicians who have performed sleep studies, have prescribed CPAP therapy and find a significant number of their patients are not able to tolerate this approach. We see other individuals who have been referred by family members because of snoring issues. If you have not had a sleep study performed we can do a screening to indicate whether a referral to a sleep physician is recommended.
If you undergo a sleep study and are diagnosed with mild to moderate sleep apnea or only have a snoring problem, you may be a candidate for the SomnoDent® appliance.
We will be happy to consult with you, assess your condition, and determine whether our appliance therapy is appropriate for you.