Sleep apnea is a disorder that causes you to stop breathing while you are sleeping, thus the term apnea, which means halted breath. In some cases, the breathing is simply shallower, while in other cases, it is completely shut off.

Before you head to the doctor to talk about your sleep issues, there are a few self-assessments you can do at home to help you determine your need to get evaluated. After you go through the general concerns, if you answer yes to most of the questions, it is time to seek help. These questions were derived from The Epworth Sleep Apnea test, which was created in 1991 by Dr. Murray Johns. The overall picture derived from the assessment can help to discover your daytime sleepiness and the reason behind it.

The dentists at Carroll Health & Wellness can play a large role in the treatment of your sleep disordered breathing. Whether you have tried CPAP and it did not work, or you simply want a less invasive treatment method, we can help. Our oral appliance therapy is a non-invasive and effective method to treat sleep apnea.

Oral appliance therapy repositions the lower mandibular (jaw), moving it forward to allow for easier breathing. The appliance is custom made to fit your mouth and ensure the perfect adjustments to promote proper breathing while you sleep. There are no noisy machines or bulky masks to wear, that interrupt your sleep and give you even more problems than you started with. All that it requires is a retainer-like mouth guard that is placed in the mouth when you go to bed.