Snore Guard

Snore guards expand your airway so you can get plenty of oxygen as you sleep and enjoy a brighter mood the next day. At Hendricks Dental Specialists in Brentwood, Tennessee, the dentists design custom snore guards to reposition the tissues inside your mouth and throat. To see if you can breathe better with a snore guard, schedule an appointment online or call the office today.

What is a snore guard?

A snore guard, also called an oral appliance, is a device that your dentist designs to fit perfectly in your mouth while you sleep. If you snore loudly, a snore guard stops your lower jaw from receding when you relax. It keeps your airways open to allow for the free and unobstructed flow of air. 

It is an alternative treatment to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines, which also help maintain an open airway at night. While you should talk to your provider and dentist about what’s best for you, a custom snore guard is more portable, quiet, and easy to maintain. 

What does a snore guard treat?

Snore guards are a treatment for obstructive sleep apnea, a condition that prevents you from getting plenty of oxygen while you sleep due to obstructions in your airway. That can happen when your jaw recedes, your tongue falls backward into your throat, or the tissues of your throat relax. 

Sleep apnea reduces the amount of beneficial sleep you get and can result in daytime symptoms beyond snoring and pauses in breathing. You might experience:

• Fatigue
• Morning headaches
• Irritability
• Dry mouth
• Trouble concentrating
• Sleepiness
• Insomnia

These symptoms happen because the pauses in your breathing throughout the night reduce the amount of oxygen you breathe in, which lowers your brain’s supply of oxygenated blood. Plus, you might not get complete sleep cycles. 

What should I expect from the process of getting a snore guard?

Hendricks Dental Specialists can discuss your personal needs when it comes to sleep apnea treatment and help you decide if a snore guard is a suitable choice for your treatment. Your dentist goes over your medical history, especially in relation to sleep apnea, and any prior treatments you’ve used to improve nighttime breathing. 

The team then takes impressions of your mouth and sends them to a lab to design your custom snore guard. There are a few different types, which the team can help you compare during your consultation. 

Are you interested in finding out if a snore guard can improve your sleep apnea symptoms and snoring? Call Hendricks Dental Specialists or schedule a consultation online today.