Is A Snoring Appliance Right for You?

If you suffer from snoring, wearing an oral sleep appliance may be an effective treatment. They can even work for our Long Island patients with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

What is a Snoring Appliance?

A snoring appliance is a custom acrylic device that’s worn while you sleep.  It looks similar to a mouth guard, but with a mouthpiece for each arch that’s connected with two extensions (one on each side).  The design allows for the bottom jaw to protrude slightly forward, opening the airway, and preventing snoring.

There are many benefits to a snoring appliance treatment in Suffolk County:

  • Comfortable
  • Quiet
  • Portable
  • Requires no electricity
  • Easy to clean and care for
  • Affordable
  • You can avoid surgery
  • Possibly replace your CPAP machine

Why Do You Snore?

There can be many factors that cause us to snore. In some cases, it can be as simple as having a cold and being congested.

Consuming alcohol and years of smoking relaxes the muscles throughout the body, including the ones in your throat and tongue.  This means that when you’re breathing while you sleep, the muscles are vibrating and making noise. Obesity and pregnancy fill our throat with extra tissue due to weight gain so that when we sleep, it vibrates and causes snoring. Then there are the genetic factors that no one can avoid. Large adenoids and tonsils, or having a long uvula can cause snoring.

How to Find Out if A Snoring Appliance Is Right for You

Talk to your primary care physician or our Suffolk County sleep dentist about your symptoms.  You may need a home sleep study to test your level of obstructive sleep apnea. Unfortunately, those with a severe case of OSA may need a CPAP machine in order to ensure they are getting enough oxygen while they sleep.

The Process of Getting a Snoring Device with Our Long Island Dentists

If your physician believes that you will benefit from wearing a snoring appliance, Sachem Dental Group in Suffolk County can help. When you visit our office, we’ll either take impressions or a digital scan of our mouth. The models get sent to a dental laboratory where your oral sleep device is expertly, and precisely made.

When you return to our Long Island office a couple of weeks later, we will ensure that the appliance fits accurately.  Some adjustments may be needed early on, but we’ll show you how to properly care for it and log your sleep patterns to achieve the best results.

Other Things You Should Know

Depending on the type of oral sleep device that you get, the fit may have different positions. Our experienced sleep dentists in Long Island will give you the ones that will work best for your situation. However, you may need to try different appliance positions to determine the one that works best for you.

Find Out More

If you’re interested wearing a snoring mouthpiece or treating your sleep apnea without a CPAP machine, then contact Sachem Dental Group in Long Island for a consultation. We can work together with your physician to ensure your condition is comfortably managed.