Snoring impacts approximately 30% of individuals in America, while second-hand snoring or being kept up or maybe having your own rest disrupted by a heavy snoring partner, impacts about 73 percent of individuals who sleep with somebody that snores. If you are tired of snoring and getting no restful sleep, a dental appliance may be the answer.

Newington, CT -- (SBWIRE) -- 11/01/2013 -- Dr. Brian Bell explains, "Even though snoring seems physically harmless, it can be a red flag for a more severe and at times fatal condition known as obstructive sleep apnea." This occurs when the airway completely deflates, obstructing airflow straight into the lungs. The harder one attempts to breathe, the tighter the airway closes. This airway obstruction persists until the brain partly wakes up the person. Unconscious, the person closes the jaw, returning the tongue as well as throat to a normal position.

Enduring the exhausting cycle of sleep apnea can take a toll on the sleeping person and the person who shares the same bed. The sleep apnea cycle starts with falling asleep, mouth relaxing, airway collapsing, a long duration with no airflow, unconsciously awakening along with a gasp and falling back asleep only to start the cycle again. "This can repeat itself fifty or more times per hour throughout the night. Along with a blocked air passage, the individual cannot receive adequate oxygen, and this can result in various other problems," comments Dr. David Bell.

"Everyone knows about the harmful results of second-hand smoke, but do you know about how harmful second-hand snoring can be to you? Research shows that bedmates of nighttime rumblers receive as little restorative sleep as the snorer," says Dr. Barbara Honor. Given that snorers can produce nearly 80 decibels of sound, a bed partner's nightly blasts are louder than trying to get a good night's sleep while strapped to a hand-held vacuum cleaner.

According to recent research by the Mayo Clinic and Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, people who sleep next to a snorer experience more chronic pain, fight against higher levels of fatigue, have more frequent episodes of conscious "blackouts" while driving, and might even be more likely to a develop hearing loss in certain frequencies. One alarming Mayo Clinic study showed that spouses of chronic snorers awakened an average of 21 times an hour, nearly matching the snorer's rate of 27 times an hour being aroused from sleep.

For some patients, the solution to this scenario can be found in a specially fashioned piece of plastic worn in the mouth every night by the snorer and offered by a dentist, like Dr. David Bell, Dr. Barbara Honor and Dr. Brian Bell, specifically trained in treating sleep disordered breathing. An anti-snoring mouthguard moves the lower jaw into a more forward position, preventing the airway from closing and ending the resultant vibration of the soft tissues.

As a victim of second-hand snoring, consider visiting a qualified dentist at The Dental Center LLC. The dentists work very closely with local Primary Care Physicians, Otolaryngologists and Sleep Medicine Physicians to insure proper diagnosis and treatment. A solution accessible to many who snore or perhaps have sleep apnea is actually an oral appliance offered by Dr. David Bell, Dr. Barbara Honor and Dr. Brian Bell. An appliance is placed in the mouth and worn much like a sports mouth protector. The appliance prevents the collapse of the tongue and soft tissues at the rear of the throat so the airway remains open while asleep. By simply promoting enough air intake, the device allows snorers to get some rest.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine's journal, Sleep, stated that, "Oral appliances are indicated for use in patients with obstructive sleep apnea who prefer oral appliances to a CPAP mask, or who do not respond to CPAP, are not appropriate candidates for CPAP, or who fail treatment attempts with CPAP or treatment with behavioral measures such as weight loss or sleep-position change."

Oral appliances are associated with better compliance than CPAP systems for many patients. Oral appliances can also be used as first-line treatment for primary snoring that is not associated with obstructive sleep apnea.

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The condition is as common in the United States as type 2 diabetes with more than 18 million Americans affected. If left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to multiple debilitating effects on the body.

Newington, CT -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/16/2013 -- Dr. Barbara Honor of The Dental Center, LLC helps treat sleep apnea through different options including continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), oral appliances and surgery. Sleep apnea causes people to stop breathing repeatedly during their sleep, sometimes hundreds of times during the night, and often for a minute or longer. In most cases, the sleeper is unaware of the stoppages in breath because they don't trigger a full awakening. "If left untreated, it can have serious and life-shortening consequences, including high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, automobile accidents caused by falling asleep at the wheel, diabetes, depression and other ailments" states Dr. Honor.

In order to diagnose sleep apnea, a sleep study is required using a polysomnogram in a sleep laboratory or home sleep study. Dr. Barbara Honor explains, "A physician should be the one to diagnose the sleep disorder and then the doctors at The Dental Center LLC will work closely together with the physician to establish the best treatment." Treatment options will vary depending on the level of sleep disorder and close consultation with the treating physician is required.

Signs and symptoms of sleep apnea include loud snoring, choking or gasping during sleep, fighting sleepiness during the day, morning headaches, memory or learning problems, feeling irritable, not being able to concentrate on your work, mood swings or personality changes, dry throat when you wake up and frequent urination at night.

Dr. Honor graduated from Emory University in 1984 and The University of Connecticut school of Dental Medicine in 1988. After completion of a General Practice Residency at Mount Sinai Hospital in Hartford, CT, she began her career in private practice.

Dr. Honor has served on the staff at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford, CT. She currently serves as a mentor in a program for UCONN Dental School students. She was recently named a Top Dentist in Connecticut magazine's 2010 survey of Connecticut dentists. Dr. Honor is a member of the American Dental Association, the Connecticut State Dental Association, and the Hartford Dental Society. Dr. Honor sees patients in the The Dental Center's Bloomfield office.

To find out more about sleep apnea, including diagnosis and treatment options, contact Dr. Honor at The Dental Center, LLC's Bloomfield location at (860) 242-1230 or CLICK HERE for more information.

For more information go to:
Sleep apnea - Mayo Clinic
American Sleep Apnea Association

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Dr. Honor, and Dr. Brian and Dr. David Bell of The Dental Center, LLC have been invited by The Dental Library, a national dental education organization, to launch and take the helm as contributing authors for TheDentalLibraryOfHartford.com.

Newington, CT -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/04/2013 -- Dr. Barbara Honor graduated from the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine in 1988. She completed her General Practice Residency at Mount Sinai Hospital, Hartford, CT and is a member of the American Dental Association, Connecticut State Dental Association and the Hartford County Dental Association. She is a mentor at UConn School of Dental Medicine and was voted Top Dentist by Connecticut Magazine in 2010.

Dr. David Bell has been in general practice since 1981. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, he completed his General Practice Residency at Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT. He is a member of the American Dental Association, the CSDA, and the Hartford County Dental Association. For over 10 years he was a clinical instructor at Hartford Hospital and continues to lecture and mentor students. Dr. Bell was a Hartford Magazine Top Dentist in 2009 and voted Top Dentist by Connecticut Magazine in 2010 and 2011.

Dr. Brian Bell graduated from Boston College in 2005 and The University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine in 2009. Following his graduation, he completed a year of advanced training at the Hartford Hospital General Practice Residency Program. Dr. Bell now serves as a mentor to UConn dental students and is a board member of the dental alumni association. He is an active member of the ADA, CSDA, AGD, and Hartford Dental Society.

The Dental Library is an organization of local, prominent dental professionals who have accepted the invitation to research and write about dental issues and developments for residents in their local areas.

The Dental Library of Hartford is meant to offer important news and information about changes and opportunities in dentistry for those in Hartford and surrounding communities.

The Dental Library finds relevant information on technologies, trends and techniques in today's dental field. At TheDentalLibraryOfHartford.com, you'll discover up-to-date news about dentistry and the potential impact on your family's future dental care.

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