It is estimated that more than 80 million people in North America snore while sleeping. While snorers often do not seem to suffer from snoring themselves (excluding Sleep Apnea Disorder), their spouses and children are often repeatedly disturbed during their sleep cycles.

Unfortunately, left untreated snoring can produce tensions and even animosity among family memebers. Today, however, thanks to extensive research and documented effectiveness, your dentist can prescribe an affordable, custom made, SILENT NITE snoring prevention device.

During sleep, the muscles and soft tissues in the throat and mouth relax making the breathing airway smaller. This decrease in the airway space increases the velocity of air flowing through the airway during breathing. As the velocity of required air is increased in the constricted space, soft tissues like the soft palate and the uvula vibrate. These vibrations of the soft tissues in the mouth and throat result in what is called "noisy breathing" or generally referred to as snoring. It should also be noted that sleep studies have shown that excess body weight, heavy alcohol consumption and other sedatives have been shown to increase the severity of snoring.

Surgical techniques to remove respiration impairing structures such as uvula, enlarged tonsils and adenoids have been among the many attempted snoring remedies. These soft tissue surgical procedures have shown only moderate success rates (e.g. 20 to 40%). At certain levels of severity, complete blockage of the sirway space by the soft tissues and the tongue can occur. If the period of asphyxiation lasts longer than 10 seconds, this is called Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). OSA can be a serious medical condition and your dentist may refer you to a sleep specialist. For the mpjority of snorers however, the most affordable, non-invasive, comfortable, and effective snoring solution remains the dentist prescribed oral snoring preventative device, such as the SILENT NITE.

Snoring research has also shown that custom fabricated dental devices worn at night that move the lower jaw into a forward position, increase the three dimensional space in the airway tube which reduces air velocity and soft tissue vibration. By incresing the volumetric capacity of the airway and preventing soft tissue vibrations, snoring is eliminated. In clinical research studies, these dentist prescribed oral devices have exhibited initla snoring prevention succes rates of between 70 to 100%.

The SILENT NITE device positions the lower jaw into a forward position by means of special connectors that are attached to transparent flexible upper & lower forms. These forms are custom laminated with heat and pressure to the dentist's model of the mouth. the fit is excellent and comfortable.

SILENT NITE devices do not interfere with breathing through the mouth. Even in cases of congested nasal passages the device prevents snoring and allows uninhibited oral breathing. Small movements of the jaw (temporomandibular joint or TMJ) are possible while wearing a SILENT NITE device. This movement potential helps minimize stiffness i the joints of the jaw in the morning. The SILENT NITE device may produce a slight sensation of the jaws being out of alignment upon wakening. This feeling is due to lymphatic fluid build up in the jaw joint that occurs overnight and will rapidly subside in minutes. SILENT NITE devices help promote deeper, more restful sleep by preventing snoring.

Copyright © 1997 Glidewell Laboratories

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