Snoring & Sleep Apnea in Lake Oswego, OR

Snoring and Sleep Apnea Solutions

Both sleep apnea and snoring are incredibly common issues that can have serious consequences for your lifestyle and health. Snoring isn’t always a sign of sleep apnea, but it can keep your family and partners awake at night, potentially causing problems that may end the relationship. Sleep apnea can cause snoring as well as potentially life threatening side effects. Fortunately, at Aesthetic Dentistry of Lake Oswego, OR, Dr. Bowden offers solutions for both sleep apnea and snoring.

What Are Snoring and Sleep Apnea?    

Snoring occurs when the jaw opens and the soft tissues near the back of the throat loosen, causing the airway to narrow and forcing air through the smaller opening. This causes the muscles to flutter, which creates sound vibrations in the throat known as snoring.

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that causes intermittent recurring pauses in your breathing during sleep. There are three forms of sleep apnea: 

• Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common and is caused by the collapsing of airways blocking airflow into the lungs. The harder one tries to breathe, the tighter the airway seals. This airway obstruction persists until the brain partially awakens the person.
• Central sleep apnea occurs when the brain fails to send signals to the body to breathe during sleep.
• Complex sleep apnea is when both obstructive and central sleep apnea occur at once.   

According to the Merck Manual, snoring affects an estimated 57 percent of men and 40 percent of women in the United States. Sleep apnea affects an estimated two to nine percent of American adults, although experts believe the condition is underdiagnosed, especially in women and asymptomatic individuals. 

Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

While snoring on its own may not cause additional symptoms, sleep apnea can cause a host of symptoms and health issues. Some symptoms of sleep apnea include:

• Daytime tiredness
• Waking up with a dry or sore throat
• Morning headaches
• Difficulty staying asleep
• Mood and personality changes
• Loud snoring

If you’re experiencing one or more of these symptoms, contact our Lake Oswego office by dialing (503) 675-7300 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Bowden.

Health Consequences of Sleep Apnea

If sleep apnea is left untreated, health consequences could arise such as:

• Heart disease
• Liver problems
• High blood pressure
• Oral cancer
• Type 2 diabetes
• Depression
• Insomnia 

Regardless of if you suffer from snoring or sleep apnea, Dr. Bowden can offer a possible solution in the form of the Thornton Adjustable Positioner®.  

A Solution For Sleep Apnea and Snoring With Thornton

The Thornton Adjustable Positioner (TAP), is an oral appliance customized to fit comfortably in your mouth and meant to be worn while you sleep. The TAP keeps your mouth and jaw open in the proper position, opening your airways and allowing you to breathe uninterrupted. 

Benefits of Treatment With TAP

• Eliminates problems of treatment stopping due to discomfort
• Simple to use
• Non-invasive, no surgery required
• Adjustable for added comfort
• Small enough for travel
• Durable
• No masks or straps required