Some common symptoms are:
Loud snoring
Occasionally waking up with a feeling of choking or gasping
Sleepiness during the day, lack of energy, forgetfulness
Restless sleep, waking up during the night
Morning headaches
Clenching or grinding during sleep
Waking up with a very sore or dry mouth
It’s not just snoring, It’s the quality of life!
Long-term sleep apnea can cause strain on your heart.
Long-term obstructive sleep apnea often raises blood pressure and may make your heart get bigger, with higher risks of heart attack and stroke.
Poor night’s sleep can in repetition take your energy off the day and forgetfulness. Feeling sleepy during the day can interfere with your quality of life, and can make car accidents more likely.
How to stop snoring
Snoring happens when the flow of air through your mouth and nose is blocked. Several things can interfere with airflow, such as blocked nasal airways, poor muscle tone in the tongue and throat, drinking alcohol or taking muscle relaxers before bedtime, your position during sleep, etc.
Your partner might be the person who tells you that you snore. You might be surprised that your dentist can be the person who will help you to finally stop snoring!
We are proud to be featuring excellent results with anti-snoring devices used by Dr. Richard Pollock here at Gateway Dental.
The end of the snoring can be closer than you think! Read one of Dr. Pollock’s patient experiences below with the life-changing snoring treatment.
The article below has been created with the help of Chelsea Dental Clinic where Dr. Pollock also sees his patients. The text has been republished with the kind approval of Dr. Pollock and Chelsea Dental Clinic London. The original article can be found on the Luxuriate Life Magazine website. Source: https://luxuriate.life/chelsea-dental-clinic-snoring/
Anti-Snoring Device
A Mandibular Advancement Device is a device that is worn on the teeth at night only during sleep, similar to an orthodontic appliance. There are MANY options out there but the premise is to move the lower jaw down and forward to keep the airway open while I am asleep. Dr. Pollock is offering a solution called Garcia Appliance – a device that he commonly uses to treat TMD (jaw joint problems).
Dr. Pollock is my kind of dentist. Straight forward, kind, highly skilled, and very pragmatic. This Scotsman’s skill extends well beyond fitting devices from same-day crowns, treating headaches and tinnitus all the way to reconstruction implant surgery. We talked about the treatment and he said that when fitted properly, this is an effective solution for many people. His lengthy experience has seen him work with many oral devices over the years after our consultation, we decided this was the best option going forward.
Below is my experience of how this Garcia Appliance stopped my snoring.
The Consultation with Dr. Pollock
I met Dr. Pollock to assess my jaws, mouth, and jaw joint. He examined the shape, strength, and overall construction of the jaw without the need for an x-ray. Immediately he noticed that my lower jaw was really narrow and trapped back in position and we talked about the options available which included comprehensive orthodontic treatment to correct the narrowness and position of my jaw although this would take much longer.
Impressions were taken of my upper and lower jaws and sent off to a UK lab (Lab Eleven) where the Garcia Appliance would be made. The process was completely painless even for a nervous dental patient like me. The device is completely individual to my mouth and can also be adjusted after it has been made if the jaw needs to be pushed forward a little more.
The fitting
Ten days after the consultation, Dr. Pollock showed me how to wear the device on my lower jaw only and made sure it fitted snugly. This was the first time I had worn anything in my mouth during the night but it is super easy to install. Just pop it in till it clicks into place.
What it feels like
During the night it feels normal. You get used to it very quickly. I wore it for an hour before bed to get used to the feeling of it and it was fine. I put a little Vaseline on my lips to keep them moist as it’s hard to lick your lips with the device in your mouth. A very small price to pay! It’s also a little harder to understand if you talk with the device so save the good conversation till the morning.
The result
WOW. I set my phone to record any noises and woke up to complete silence and I moved around once during the night. After 10 years I had completely stopped snoring overnight thanks to my jaw being positioned slightly more forward. I was quite emotional and couldn’t believe how quickly it worked. I slept on my side and also on my back and there was no snoring whatsoever.
I removed the device and my jaw felt a little stiff for about 10 minutes after I removed it but soon became normal. I washed the Garcia Appliance and placed it back in its box as if it were a diamond-encrusted Rolex.
The main benefit is the reduction in muscle activity of the facial muscles if not complete relaxation of them in addition to the position of posture which helps prevent/reduce snoring. This is where the Garcia beats the various oral appliances available because these still allow muscle activity and in some cases high muscle activity.
Three months later
I am still not snoring. At all. I put the Garcia Appliance in religiously when I sleep, knowing that I won’t be snoring, or disturbing anyone and above all, I am breathing properly and getting a good night’s sleep. In the morning, I feel fresh and I am not sleepy during the day!