Snoring Is SO Last Year

Possibly our next dog.

I apologize for the hiatus, but a whirlwind of events has taken place since our last encounter. Most excitingly, we rescued a dog! The new addition to our home is Harlan (handsomely pictured below), who is an energetic Lab/German Shephard mix. He's quite the handful, but we're so happy to have him part of our family.

The 67 Pound Stud Muffin Named Harlan

Alright, enough gushing about Harlan. Let's get to exciting dental news! I have recently joined the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine (AADSM). It has been estimated that about 50% of Americans have snored at one time or another. With such a staggering stat, it is difficult to ignore this potentially debilitating condition. Snoring occurs when the soft tissues of our upper airway obstruct our air passage, causing the throat to vibrate and produce that "attractive" sound of snoring. In other words, snoring means that our airway is partially obstructed!

While the act of snoring is not dangerous, it should serve as a warning sign for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). Approximately 50% of patients who snore also have sleep apnea. OSA occurs when the airway is completely obstructed, preventing air from getting into the lungs! In addition to lowering your body's oxygen level, untreated sleep apnea has been associated with increase risk of:

• Excessive daytime sleepiness
• Driving and work-related accidents
• High blood pressure
• Heart disease
• Stroke
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Depression
• Morning headaches
• Irritability
• Decreased sex drive
• Impaired concentration

In other words, debilitating. To treat this condition, personalized oral appliances help reposition the tongue and lower jaw forward, allowing the airway to remain open. There is a wide array of oral appliances (one example is pictured below) that are available, dentists trained in dental sleep medicine can pick the one that will work best for you. If you are concerned about your sleeping habits, I invite you to take a Self Test.

EMA (Elastic Mandibular Advancment) Appliance

As you continue to bring in the new year, I hope that you focus on becoming the best and healthiest you! This is the year. If there are health conditions (including snoring) that concern you, please speak to your physician/dentist soon. And as always, I am here for your questions/concerns.

Here's to a year filled with happiness and health,
Dr. Lynda Tran