Snoring may be an annoying social problem and a subject of humor, but it also may be the cause (or the signal) of some serious medical problems. Snoring can lead to numerous awakenings from an otherwise deep sleep. Such interrupted sleep patterns can cause daytime drowsiness which can impair the ability to concentrate, accomplish required tasks, and handle minor irritations. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has estimated that more than 200,000 auto accidents annually are sleep-related.
Sleep Apnea
At its worst, snoring is related to the serious medical condition, sleep apnea. In this condition, the narrowing of the pharynx is so significant that the tongue can actually press against the back wall of the windpipe causing total obstruction of airflow. If the obstruction lasts for ten seconds or longer it is considered an apnea. People with sleep apnea suffer from 10 to more than 100 apnea episodes per hour. Sleep apnea is associated with an increased risk of hypertension and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease.
How is it Treated?
Most of the time, snoring and sleep apnea can be reduced or eliminated by wearing a simple oral appliance at night. It enlarges the airway by positioning the lower jaw slightly forward. Ask us for suggestions or contact us to schedule a consultation!
Dr. Angela Burns moved to Austin 10 years ago and instantly fell in love with our beautiful city. Dr. Burns is originally from the Texarkana area. She attended Texas A&M for her undergraduate degree and The University of Tennessee Health Science Center for her degree in dental surgery (DDS). Dr. Burns is committed to providing her patients with gentle, technologically advanced dental treatment. She attends an average of 60 hours of continuing education every year. She is a member of the American Dental Association, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, the Texas Dental Association, and the Capital Area Dental Society. Dr. Burns and her husband, Gary, have an 11-year-old daughter, Sydney, who is a proud 6th grader at Hill Country Middle School. She is also very involved in the Eanes PTO, her church, and loves raising her family in the Westlake community. “Growing up, I was drawn to mediating and helping others feel more included and less anxious. I was a camp counselor, student government officer and being the oldest of five, I was the family mediator. I found that I had a calling to help alleviate stressful situations for others and realized that being a good listener was something that was key to this. These skills really helped guide me into becoming a dentist that has based my practice on relationships, empathy and a sense of comfort. I knew that I wanted to provide an atmosphere that felt like home when others walked in. Our practice is small, personal and state of the art and we hope you feel like you’re hanging out with friends when you are here!” When she is not practicing dentistry, Dr. Burns enjoys traveling, hiking the greenbelt, enjoying Austin’s music scene, and eating Amy’s Ice Cream.
