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While snoring is common and often harmless, it can also be a warning sign for OSA, a serious medical condition that affects an estimated 18 million people in the United States. Dangers related to OSA include severe daytime sleepiness, an increased risk of high blood pressure, and higher rates of heart attack and stroke. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the tongue and soft tissues in the back of the throat collapse and block the airway during sleep, which produces pauses in breathing that prevent air from getting to the lungs. These pauses can occur a few times or several hundred times per night. When worn during sleep, an oral appliance maintains an open and unobstructed airway in the throat by repositioning or stabilizing the lower jaw, tongue, soft palate or uvula.

 

There are many types of oral appliances, with some designed only to treat snoring and others for both snoring and sleep apnea therapy. The new practice parameters recommended by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine indicate that patients with mild to moderate OSA can use an oral appliance when they prefer it to CPAP, which is the most effective treatment for sleep apnea. An oral appliance should also be considered by patients who are unable to successfully use CPAP or who fail surgical intervention. Patients with severe cases of OSA may also benefit from an oral appliance when either CPAP or surgery is unsuccessful.

According to Dr. Williams, the most common warning signs for OSA are frequent and loud snoring, daytime sleepiness, and waking up during the night with a choking sound or gasping for breath. Often it is the bed partner of a person with OSA who first recognizes these symptoms. Men and women who are obese are also at a higher risk for this sleep disorder. Medical treatment is necessary to prevent OSA from having a detrimental impact on an individual's physical health.