A snore guard can be a life-changing solution for people with disrupted sleep due to snoring. In this article, we discuss how dentists customize snore guards for better sleep.
How Dentists Customize Snore Guards for Better Sleep
A snore guard is a dental appliance that you wear at night. It helps to keep your airway open by moving your lower jaw forward or holding your tongue in place. This prevents the soft tissues from vibrating and reduces noisy and interrupted breathing, improving your sleep quality.
Additionally, snoring reduction with a snore guard helps improve oxygen flow, heart health, daytime energy levels, cognitive function, and the immune system.
There are different types of snore guards depending on the patient’s anatomy and symptoms. Thus, mandibular advancement devices reposition the lower jaw forward to prevent airway collapse, while tongue-retaining devices hold the tongue in place to avoid airway obstruction.
Snore guard customization includes several steps:
Initial Consultation and Assessment
Every Snore Guard customization starts with an initial consultation, during which your doctor will assess your snoring, its causes, and its severity. Your doctor is likely to discuss your sleep history, symptoms (such as morning headaches and daytime fatigue), and your oral health. Additionally, you might be offered to undergo a sleep study to diagnose sleep apnea.
The consultation and assessment will help your doctor choose an optimal snore guide to meet your needs and offer additional treatment options, if necessary.
Teeth and Bite Impressions
To create a comfortable and practical snore guard, your doctor will take impressions of your teeth or 3D scans. The impressions and scans allow your dentist and the technician to see the position of your upper and lower teeth and bite relationship in detail.
Design and Fabrication
The scans or impressions are sent to a dental lab, where a technician prepares your custom snore guard. High-quality, medical-grade materials are used to manufacture a snore guard that will offer durability and comfort.
Fitting and Adjustments
When your snore guard is ready, you will have another appointment with your dentist. During this visit, your doctor will ensure that the snore guard fits correctly, is comfortable for you, and performs its intended function optimally. Adjustments and alterations can be made if necessary.
Who Benefits Most From a Snore Guard
As we mentioned before, a snore guard can significantly improve the quality of your sleep. However, they are most effective for people who:
- Have mild to moderate snoring
- Have snoring caused by airway obstruction or jaw positioning
- Snore primarily when sleeping on their back, have a narrow airway, or experience jaw relaxation during sleep
If you have severe sleep apnea, other methods, such as CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) therapy, which uses a machine to deliver mild, pressurized air through a mask while you sleep, might be recommended.
Custom-made Versus Over-the-counter Snore Guards
Over-the-counter snore guards are often more affordable than custom-made options. However, they are often noticeably less effective (or ineffective in some cases) because they are manufactured without your specific needs and anatomical specifications in mind. Additionally, over-the-counter snore guards are inferior in comfort and durability to custom-made ones.
Get a Snore Guard at TruGlo Calabasas
If you experience sleep disruptions due to snoring, do not hesitate to get a snore guard from an experienced dentist at TruGlo Calabasas. Remember that the quality of your sleep is closely related to your overall health. We are looking forward to helping you improve your sleep and quality of life.
