Obstructive sleep apnea is a very common and potentially life-threatening condition that occurs when the airway collapses, blocking airflow into the lungs therefore reducing the amount of oxygen delivered to all your organs.  When the blood-oxygen level drops low enough, the body momentarily wakes up.  It can happen so fast that you may not even know that you woke up.  This can happen hundreds of times a night, making you feel tired and unrefreshed in the morning.  The cycle of falling asleep, jaw relaxing, airway collapsing, unconsciously awaking with a gasp, falling back asleep can cause more problems than just snoring and excessive daytime sleepiness.  Obstructive sleep apnea can also cause memory loss, headaches, depression, impaired concentration and even stroke and heart attacks.  

We are able to treat sleep apnea and snoring with an appliance called a Thornton Adjustable Positioner. This appliance holds the mandible (lower jaw) forward during sleep to prevent the tongue and soft tissues of the throat from collapsing into the airway.  By adjusting the degree to which the mandible is held forward, we can maximize both the effectiveness of the appliance and the patient's comfort. Clinical studies show that the Thornton Adjustable Positioner has a 96% success rate in alleviating snoring and sleep apnea.

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Phone: (802) 878-4664
Email: office@advanceddentistryvt.com