Snoring Appliances

What are snoring appliances?

A snoring appliance, also known as a mandibular advancement device (MAD), is an oral appliance you wear in your mouth at night to get a better night’s sleep. This type of dental device keeps your lower jaw in a forward position, increasing space in airway passages. It reduces snoring, helps you breathe easier, and allows you and your partner to sleep soundly.

What causes snoring?

Snoring might simply be a nuisance or a sign of a potentially serious medical problem, such as sleep apnea. It occurs when soft tissues in your mouth and throat relax, creating a narrower air passage. Breathing can move soft tissues around in your mouth and cause loud vibrations, making it difficult to get a full breath of air.

What are the risk factors for snoring?

Common causes and risk factors that may contribute to snoring at night, which can disrupt you and your partner's sleep, include:

• Being overweight
• Alcohol consumption
• Obstructive sleep apnea
• Some sleeping aids
• Sedatives

Your Charles M. Marks, DDS & Dental Associates specialist works with you to find the root cause of snoring. They let you know if you’re a good candidate for snoring appliances after reviewing your oral health history, discussing your symptoms, and examining your mouth and throat. Your provider may also recommend you undergo a sleep study.

What should I expect during snoring appliance treatment?

If your dentist determines a snoring appliance is right for you, they customize the appliance to fit the shape of your mouth and jaw. It can prevent your tongue from falling backward over your windpipe to achieve better night time breathing.

Your dental specialist ensures a comfortable fit before sending you home with a new snoring appliance. Simply place the device in your mouth before you go to sleep and remove it when you wake up.

Do snoring appliances feel comfortable?

The snoring appliances available at Charles M. Marks, DDS & Dental Associates are indeed comfortable. You won’t even know you’re wearing them, and the appliances don't prevent you from breathing with your mouth open. They can even eliminate snoring when you have allergies or sinus congestion.

However, you might experience slight jaw stiffness for a few mornings after you begin wearing a new snoring appliance. This is temporary and goes away after you remove the device.

Don’t live with snoring that diminishes you or your partner's sleep quality. Schedule an appointment by phone or online with Charles M. Marks, DDS & Dental Associates to get fitted for a snoring appliance today.