Many people do not see snoring as a problem, but loud snoring combined with excessive daytime sleepiness can be signs of sleep apnea. This common and potentially serious condition causes your breathing to stop repeatedly while you sleep. These brief pauses may happen hundreds of times each night without your awareness, disrupting your regular sleep cycle. As a result, you may not feel as mentally alert, energetic, or productive during the day.

It is important for patients to seek treatment for sleep apnea. If left untreated, the condition can lead to serious health issues such as stroke, heart failure, diabetes, high blood pressure, and depression. Sleep apnea can often be treated successfully with oral appliance therapy. These devices fit like sports mouthguards and work by keeping the airway open. They do this by holding the tongue in place or gently supporting the jaw forward.