Anti-Snoring Therapy

Sleep through the night relaxed with a splint against snoring

Almost a fifth of the Swiss are snorers. In the long run, this can lead to conflicts with the life partner. This is because the partner's sleep is also negatively affected.

A snoring splint, also known as a protrusion splint, is suitable for patients suffering from basic tongue snoring, both those with normal snoring and those with mild to moderate sleep apnea.

In our dental clinic in Baar, we offer a simple treatment with a snoring splint as part of dental sleep medicine, which can reduce or even eliminate "healthy snoring". This special, individually fitted aligner helps to keep the airways open during sleep. This improves oxygen delivery and reduces snoring.

However, if snoring is accompanied by nocturnal breathing interruptions, this is referred to as "pathological sleep" or sleep apnea. Respiratory arrests of more than 10 seconds result in less oxygen being supplied to the entire bloodstream and brain. One consequence of this is an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. A professional evaluation for the presence of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is therefore absolutely necessary.

Snoring and its causes

Snoring can be caused by both external and internal factors. In doing so, you can influence the exogenous factors to some extent. Some triggers may include:

• Back sleeping: In many cases, the sleeping position plays a decisive role. In the supine position, there is a risk that the tongue muscles will sink into the back of the throat due to gravity.
• Sleeping pills: Consuming sleeping pills and alcohol can cause snoring. The substances contained in these drugs cause the entire musculature to relax too much.
• Smoking: Cigarettes irritate the sensitive mucous membranes in the mouth and throat, which can lead to swelling, which is noticeable at night through loud noises.

Furthermore, the body's own and anatomical causes (endogenous factors) can have an influence on snoring. These causes include:

• Obesity leads to narrowing of the airways
• Swelling and irritation of the nasal mucous membranes (due to hay fever or house dust allergies)
• Nasal septum bent or crooked
• Breathing through the mouth
• Enlarged tonsils
• Polyps of the nose
• Jaw misalignments
• Deep-set tongue

With age, snoring increases in both men and women. From the age of 60, 60% of men and 40% of women are affected. The reason for this is that during menopause, the female body produces less estrogen and the muscles along the airways relax. In addition, the tissue becomes drier.

Treatment of snoring with the mandibular protrusion splint

The most commonly recommended solution by dentists is a mandibular protrusion splint (USPS). The splint is worn on the teeth during sleep. It resembles an orthodontic splint. This prevents the soft tissue from sinking into the airways and interfering with normal breathing. The effectiveness of the splint has been scientifically proven.

The mandibular protrusion splint is a painless and non-invasive treatment and is therefore also suitable for anxiety patients. It is precisely adapted to the unique anatomy of the mouth and the contours of the teeth, taking high-precision impressions. If you already have a dental prosthesis, the splint can be optimally adapted to it in the dental laboratory. This avoids false bites.

Actually, they are two splints for the rows of teeth of the upper and lower jaw, which are connected to each other. The connection can be rigid or flexible by means of straps or screws. That's why we also speak of monobloc and biblock rails.

In order to understand how a snoring splint works, it is necessary to know how snoring occurs. The cause of snoring is a partial obstruction of the airways by the surrounding soft tissue and the muscles surrounding the trachea. As a result, the soft palate begins to vibrate, which is commonly known as a snoring sound.

The lower jaw protrusion splint is worn over the upper and lower teeth and allows the airways to be opened by moving the lower jaw forward in relation to the position of the upper jaw. To keep the airways open, a displacement of the lower jaw of about 8 to 10 mm is usually sufficient. The dentist can make further adjustments. This ensures a snug and comfortable fit.

The protrusion splints are two splints for the rows of teeth of the upper and lower jaw that are connected to each other. The connection can be rigid or flexible by means of straps or screws. There are two types: monobloc and bibloc rails.

Monobloc snoring splints

Monobloc mandibular protrusion splints consist of a single part. The top and bottom rails are connected to each other.

They are particularly suitable for first-time users because they are easy to deploy and carry. However, since the degree of protrusion cannot be changed afterwards and there is no room for movement in all three directions, they offer only limited flexibility. In contrast, with the biblock rails, only the forward and backward movements are restricted. For long-term use, however, it offers too little freedom of movement for many sufferers.

If readjustment of the tensile stress is considered from the beginning, it is advisable to use a biblock rail.

Biblock anti-snoring splint

Biblock rails are connected to each other by flexible joints, elastic bands, plastic belts or metallic screw connections. These connections can be adjusted or loosened.

The flexibility of the biblock splints allows individual adjustments for the distance between the splints and the forward displacement to find the optimal jaw position against snoring. They also provide lateral freedom of movement, which keeps the jaw relaxed, even when worn for long periods of time.

For whom is a snoring splint suitable?

Every snorer can benefit from a snoring splint. However, when choosing the right splint, certain factors must be taken into account, such as gaps in teeth or dentures.

A protrusion splint creates artificial tension in the jaw by constantly placing the lower jaw under a slight tension. This tension is transferred to the teeth or the row of teeth of the upper and lower jaw and must be supported by them. In the case of a complete set of teeth, where the pressure is distributed over all teeth, this should usually not be a problem. This applies at least to splints with sprocket-covering filling. It is important to avoid splints that put excessive stress on the incisors and canines, e.g. due to a splint arch that does not reach the molars. Otherwise, there is a risk that individual teeth will be insufficiently supported and damaged.

If individual teeth are missing, this is not a problem for the use of a snoring splint. However, if several teeth are missing per row of teeth, it is advisable to consult your dentist before buying a snoring splint. Only the dentist can assess whether the dentition offers sufficient support and whether the remaining teeth can withstand the pressure.

Most snoring splint providers cannot offer a snoring splint to patients with removable dentures or jaw braces because they cannot be fixed on a stable base. However, we use protrusion splints from the manufacturer Somnomed, which are also suitable for patients with removable dentures.

For patients with fixed implants or bridges, the use of a snoring splint is generally possible, but should be discussed with the dentist before purchasing.

Cleaning the anti-snoring splint

In order for the splint to be effective against snoring, it must be in good condition. Therefore, the protrusion splint should only be used as long as no damage is visible.

With careful care, a protrusion splint lasts about 5 years. A new splint should be made by the dentist if the splint has been damaged by grinding or no longer fits optimally to the teeth.

It is best to clean them after each use. To do this, remove the snoring tray and clean it thoroughly with a manual toothbrush. As a rule, water is sufficient, making sure to use only cold or lukewarm water. Water that is too hot can cause them to deform and need to be readjusted.

To clean hard-to-reach areas, we recommend placing the splints in a denture cleaning solution for a few minutes at least once a week. In general, 10 minutes is sufficient. To prevent the material from being attacked, you should use a mild solution. We would be happy to advise you on suitable cleaning solutions in our practice.

Before inserting the snoring splint, the teeth should be thoroughly cleaned. Remaining food residues can form an ideal bacterial environment under the splint and promote the development of caries.

Snoring during pregnancy

Pregnant women snore frequently, especially towards the end of pregnancy. This is due to the fact that the nasal mucous membranes are more supplied with blood and swell. Pregnancy hormones, especially progesterone, loosen the body's tissues, including in the nasopharynx. In women with a tendency to snore, weight gain and increased pressure in the abdomen also promote snoring.

Snoring during pregnancy can be bothersome for your partner. However, it is usually safe for mother and child. It is reassuring to know that snoring after childbirth usually stops as suddenly as it began.

Tips against snoring during pregnancy:

• A cool sleeping climate with sufficient humidity prevents the mucous membranes from drying out
• Elevate your head or sleep on your side
• Nasal plasters from the pharmacy
• Nasal spray with hypertonic saline, saline gel or nasal oils. They provide a natural moisturization of the nasal mucosa.

Caution should be exercised with nasal sprays containing the active ingredients oxymetazoline, xylometazoline or tetryzoline. Only in exceptional cases should these remedies be used during pregnancy. They have a drying effect and also quickly lead to a habituation effect, which leads to the more and more frequent use of the sprays and to the increase of the dosage. High doses can cause the vessels in the placenta to constrict and the unborn child to remain undersupplied.