What are the Treatment Options?

    If you haven't already done so, please take the time to fill out our quiz, "What's your Snore Score," on page 2. This will help you determine the seriousness of your snoring and allow you to more acurately assess which treatment options might be right for you.

CPAP

     Many Sleep Physicians recommend CPAP (Constant Positive Airway Pressure) as their first choice in treating snoring. A CPAP is an air pump device attached to a mask, worn over the nose. It delivers continuous pressure blowing the airway open through the nose. It is extremely effective in the elimination of snoring, as well as Sleep Apnea. However, it has patient compliance of only 30%-50% due to it's bulky size (traveling can be difficult), uncomfortable nature, eye irritation, nasal congestion, lack of sex appeal, and a sense of suffocation.

MRD (Our treatment)

     The Sleep Physicians' second choice in treatment is the MRD (Mandibular Repositioning Device). This oral appliance is custom made for the patient by a trained Dentist experienced in Sleep Disorders and Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) therapy. This appliance resembles an upper and lower orthodontic retainer hinged together to hold the jaw forward. When a person's jaw is held forward, the tongue, surrounding muscles and tissues also move forward. The airway is therefore opened in the majority of people.
     There are a number of dental appliances available. They range from temporary, one-size-fits-all devices to long-lasting, custom-fabricated and adjustable appliances. The long-lasting appliances should be a Dentist's first choice. Advantages include comfort, safety, durability and ease of portability. Due to their adjustable nature, these appliances treat a greater range of Snoring and Sleep Apnea, and have proven to be more comfortable to the TMJ (the jaw joint). Not every patient will benefit from appliance therapy, and a small number cannot tolerate an intraoral device during sleep, so professional evaluation is essential.

Surgery

      A Sleep Physicians' last choice is usually surgery. There are several choices in surgical procedures, each with similar results, complications, and side effects. All of these invasive procedures are irreversible, and run the risk of compromising the functional capabilities of the soft palate, as well as risking infection, excessive bleeding, and discomfort during healing.
      The surgical goal is to reduce the amount of tissue available to vibrate, namely the soft palate, the uvula, and the surrounding tissues. In many cases surgery must be repeated several times to achieve actual reduction or elimination of snoring. While this may reduce snoring, invasive surgical procedures only have a reported 50% success rate in reducing Sleep Apnea, since, in many cases, air blockage is lower in the throat at the base of the tongue.

Conclusion

     A majority of patients prefer an MRD over surgery as a non-invasive, reversible , and less expensive alternative. Due to the compliance difficulties experienced by many patients, an MRD is also a comfortable alternative to CPAP.

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