People with untreated sleep apnea stop breathing repeatedly while sleeping. Snoring is often identified with sleep apnea. In some cases, breathing can stop hundreds of times during the night, and does not resume for up to a minute or longer at times.
Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common form of sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea is caused by airway blockage, usually when the soft tissue in the rear of the throat collapses and closes while you sleep and can be corrected by sleep apnea dentistry.
Sleep apnea dentistry treats sleep apnea by opening the air passages. Although this may require surgery in some patients, sleep apnea dentistry often successfully treats the problem with a simple oral appliance, a custom fitted device that repositions the lower jaw and tongue. An oral appliance keeps the airway open and reduces or eliminates apneic events.
The Thornton Adjustable Positioner® II (TAP II) is based on the same principle as cardiopulmonary resuscitation, CPR. The airway must be opened to allow air to pass through the throat. A constricted or collapsed airway causes snoring or sleep apnea.
