It is estimated that 45% of the population snores and that 25% of the population are habitual snorers. How can dentists help solve the snoring problem? There are devices that can be made in a dental office that are worn at night to stop snoring. They work by bringing the lower jaw and tongue forward just enough to open the airway, which should cause the snoring to stop. If sleep apnea is part of the problem (of the habitual snorers, it is estimated that 1 in 5 women and 1 in 3 men have Obstructive Sleep Apnea ), it might be the case that these devices are not for you and that a CPAP machine is recommended. The only way to find out the correct solution for you is to spend a night in a sleep clinic. They will be able to find out how many apneic episodes you are having throughout the night. If you fall under a certain threshold, then the intra oral device might be all you need. Over that threshold, a CPAP machine is the only safe way to help.
Dr. Jay Rabinovich