Sleep Apnea & Snoring

Do you snore at night? Wake up feeling drowsy? Find it difficult to concentrate during the day? These may be signs of a more serious sleep-breathing condition known as sleep apnea. Patients with sleep apnea actually stop breathing at repeated intervals throughout the night. In addition to disruptive snoring, sleep apnea can cause oxygen depletion, sleep deprivation, and even premature death.

In most cases, snoring is caused by blocked airways. As the air forces its way through the throat, loud rumbling sounds occur. Sleep apnea results when the airways are closed off completely, causing lapses in breath. These lapses can occur hundreds of times during the night, waking the body up just enough to take a breath. Many people with sleep apnea are unaware that there’s a problem.

Symptoms of sleep apnea include:

• Loud, chronic snoring
• Gasping for breath at night
• Morning headaches
• Daytime drowsiness
• Difficulty concentrating
• Memory loss
• Irritability
• Depression

Sleep apnea has also been linked to more threatening health conditions, such as high blood pressure and stroke. Fortunately, for patients with mild to moderate sleep apnea, there is a solution. Dr. Poss prescribes custom-made snoreguards or oral appliances to help with these irritating and potentially dangerous symptoms. These thin, comfortable appliances keep the throat clear of soft-tissues, so you can breathe comfortably throughout the night.

Snore appliances are a popular alternative to the CPAP machine, which is a facial mask that delivers a continuous stream of oxygen to the body. Because it’s loud and cumbersome, many patients don’t follow through with CPAP treatment. If you think you may have sleep apnea or would like to stop snoring, ask Dr. Poss about CPAP alternatives or snoreguards at your next visit.

Dr. Poss has attended hundreds of hours of continuing education in sleep breathing disorders and is a diplomat with the Academy of Clinical Sleep Disorders Discipline (ACSDD).

Delivering Sensational Smiles Since 1983

Call our Brentwood, TN practice to schedule an appointment with Dr. Poss. Convenient to Nashville and Franklin residents, our dental office serves the greater Williamson County with exceptional dentistry for sensational smiles.