“Though many people consider snoring a normal part of life,” says Robin Rutherford, DDS, “the truth is it can severely impact your health.” The cosmetic dentist reveals that snoring may be much more than simply an annoyance or an inconvenience—and may even be a sign of sleep apnea. Snoring occurs when the soft tissues lining the patient’s airways vibrate during sleep, and this sound is a signal that the person’s breathing is impaired. When a patient snores repetitively and consistently, Rutherford highlights that a number of other health conditions may develop, such as morning headaches, high blood pressure, or gastric reflux.
Robin Rutherford, DDS
In Rutherford’s experience, many of his patients at The Art of Dentistry do not think of snoring as a serious concern, and they may not know how to recognize sleep apnea. “Unfortunately, many people who have sleep apnea are unaware they are suffering from the condition,” says the Odessa dentist. In addition to snoring, patients with sleep apnea experience pauses in their breathing during sleep and may wake up gasping for air. For patients who believe they or their partner may suffer from this condition, Rutherford says there are a number of auxiliary sleep apnea symptoms to look for, including teeth grinding, insomnia, headaches, exhaustion, memory loss, or sexual dysfunction. He goes on to note that people who believe sleep apnea is occurring should undergo a sleep study for an official evaluation and diagnosis.
“When left untreated, sleep apnea may lead to more serious medical concerns, such as diabetes, depression, a compromised immune system, stroke, or heart disease,” says Rutherford. To help treat sleep apnea and restore his patients’ ability to sleep well at night, Rutherford’s cosmetic dentistry practice offers a number of solutions including customized oral appliances or, in more serious cases, oral surgery. These treatments can improve airflow, prevent the onset of more complicated and life threatening medical conditions, and improve the patient’s overall quality of life.
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