Doctor Douglas Wong on Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is the cessation of breathing and it happens during your sleep. Sometimes it happens during the day. The problem usually pertains to the airway being constricted and it’s usually the tongue that is constricting the airway. Mandibular advancing devices are used to help advance the jaw so that you can open the airway. And that is important, especially during your sleep because you don’t know you’re not breathing. And with the cessation of sleep, it disrupts your REM and you don’t have a good night’s sleep. Therefore, you’re tired during the day. Not only are you fatigued, but when you’re not breathing, it’s not healthy. Patients going through treatment with these oral devices usually are people who don’t like the CPAP. Once they start using this, their partners are happier because they’re not snoring. Two, they’re more alert during the day. They feel energetic. Overall, it’s just a happier situation.