Sleep Apnea

Oral Appliance Therapy for Snoring and Sleep Apnea

If snoring disrupts your sleep or your partner's rest, you may be dealing with more than just a nighttime nuisance. Snoring is often a warning sign of sleep apnea, a serious health condition that affects your breathing while you sleep. Left untreated, sleep apnea can significantly impact your health and quality of life.

Dr. Wendy Shorr DDS in Skokie, IL is one of only a few hundred dentists in the United States to be board certified by the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine. With specialized expertise in treating sleep apnea and snoring, Dr. Shorr offers effective, comfortable solutions using custom-made oral appliances.

What Is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a potentially life-threatening condition where your breathing repeatedly stops during sleep. These pauses, called apneas, can last from several seconds to minutes and may occur 5 to 30 times per hour—or even more frequently.

What causes these breathing interruptions? The airway can become blocked due to:

• The natural shape of your palate and throat
• Enlarged tonsils, tongue, or uvula
• Relaxed airway muscles during sleep
• Jaw position while sleeping

When your breathing stops, oxygen levels in your blood drop, prompting your brain to wake you up just enough to resume breathing. This cycle repeats throughout the night, preventing you from getting the restorative sleep your body needs.

The Health Risks of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)

The most obvious symptom of sleep apnea is exhaustion due to the inability to get a decent night's sleep (including the inability to move through all the beneficial cycles of sleep). However, the detrimental effects go well beyond exhaustion. Untreated sleep apnea increases your risk for serious health conditions, including:

• Heart Attack
• Irregular Heartbeat (Arrhythmia)
• Stroke
• Hypertension
• Diabetes

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is fairly common, with one in five adults experiencing mild sleep apnea, while one in 15 having moderate or severe apnea. Many people don't realize they have the condition until a bed partner notices the symptoms—or until they recognize how much it's affecting their daily life.

Do You Have Sleep Apnea? Recognizing the Signs

If you experience any of these symptoms, it's time to explore whether sleep apnea might be the cause:

• Loud snoring, gasping, or choking during sleep
• Pauses in breathing (witnessed by a partner)
• Difficulty concentrating or poor judgment
• Irritability, depression, or memory loss
• Morning headaches
• Unexplained weight gain
• Frequent nighttime awakenings (including bathroom trips)

If you are experiencing symptoms, it is important to get an accurate diagnosis. A complete examination and history by your physician or dentist is the place to start. If sleep apnea is suspected, you will be referred to a sleep center for an overnight sleep study (polysomnogram) to confirm the diagnosis and determine the severity. Once you have a diagnosis, you can pursue treatment.

Click the image below to view our informational brochure on sleep apnea and oral appliance therapy.

Effective Treatment Options For Sleep Apnea

Lifestyle Modifications

For some patients with mild sleep apnea, simple lifestyle changes can make a significant difference:

• Weight loss
• Sleeping on your side instead of your back
• Avoiding heavy meals and alcohol within two hours of bedtime

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (C-PAP)

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machines deliver a steady flow of pressurized air through a mask worn over your nose. This treatment is effective for mild to severe sleep apnea and may be recommended depending on your diagnosis.  

Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT)

Dr. Shorr specializes in oral appliance therapy, a comfortable and effective treatment for sleep apnea and snoring. These custom-made devices, also known as mandibular advancement devices, work by gently positioning your lower jaw forward to keep your airway open throughout the night.

Because there are many oral appliances available—each with different features and potential side effects—it's crucial to work with an experienced sleep dentist. As one of only several hundred dentists in the United States board certified by the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, Dr. Shorr has the expertise to select and customize the right appliance for your specific needs.

Surgical Options

For patients who don't respond to other treatments, various surgical procedures can help enlarge the airway or prevent it from collapsing during sleep.

Contact Us For Sleep Apnea Treatment In Skokie, IL

Dr. Wendy Shorr has the specialized training and advanced treatment options to help you overcome sleep apnea and stop snoring. If you're experiencing symptoms or have concerns about your sleep quality, we're here to help.

Call our Skokie, IL office at (847) 673-8883 to schedule your sleep apnea consultation today. We serve patients from Skokie, Wilmette, Winnetka, & The Surrounding Communities.