Snoring: Do I Have Sleep Apnea if I Snore?

Sleep apnea with snoring is a common sleep disorder that is linked to systemic health conditions and causes chronic fatigue. In the past, sleep apnea often went undiagnosed and untreated. Today, however, patients have access to treatment through a sleep apnea specialist who can determine the underlying cause of sleep apnea and offer treatment solutions that work for a patient’s individual needs.

Sleep Apnea: Causes and Symptoms (Snoring)

Dr Wolford Cpap Mask

While snoring is one of the most common symptoms of sleep apnea, snoring can occur without apnea as well. Other common sleep apnea symptoms include memory loss, headaches in the morning, and irritability.

Patients with untreated sleep apnea are essentially robbed a good night’s rest because soft oral tissues collapse into airways and obstruct a patient’s ability to breathe for short periods of time during sleep. To offset the cessation of breath during sleep, the brain sends signals to the body to wake the sleeper slightly to reinitiate the breathing cycle.

This cycle of breathing cessation and wakefulness can occur hundreds of times throughout the night and prevents a sleeper from naturally progressing through the various stages of sleep that promote rejuvenation and adequate rest. 

While snoring is one of the most common symptoms of sleep apnea, snoring can occur without apnea as well.

Diagnosing and Treating Sleep Apnea

The only way to know for sure if a patient has sleep apnea is for the patient to undergo a sleep study. During a sleep study, patients’ sleep activity and brain waves are monitored closely for signs of sleep apnea and other sleep disorders. Once sleep apnea has been diagnosed, patients can visit a sleep apnea specialist for treatment.

Sleeping Without Snoring

Treatment methods may involve the use of a CPAP mask, which emits a steady stream of air into the oral cavity to prevent soft tissues from blocking air passageways. Some patients also benefit from custom oral appliances that gently reposition the jaw during sleep to keep airways open. In some cases, minor surgery alleviates the causes of sleep apnea as well.

If you have questions or would like to schedule an appointment, please contact Dr. Larry Wolford’s office using our online contact form or call 214-828-9115

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Get To Know Dr. Larry M. Wolford, DMD

Diplomat of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Oral Maxillofacial Jaw Surgeon | Larry M. Wolford, DMD
Dr. Larry M. Wolford
The Leading Maxillofacial Revision Surgeon in the World

Dr. Larry M. Wolford, known as a caring and compassionate doctor, surgeon, researcher, lecturer, inventor, is renowned globally as a leading innovator in TMJ (jaw joint) surgery, orthognathic “corrective jaw” surgery, and maxillofacial revision surgery. He has completed many thousands of successful surgeries and is the most recognized, awarded, and referred Maxillofacial surgeon in the World.

Dr. Wolford’s patients travel to Dallas, Tx from all over the world. He has received recognition from his esteemed surgeon colleagues in the form of numerous awards, honors, Who’s Who in the World, and voted one of the leading Maxillofacial Surgeons in the world. Dr. Wolford has tirelessly shared his knowledge, surgical inventions, and expertise with other surgeons having trained hundreds of other surgeons through various fellowships at Baylor and Texas A&M.

Dr. Wolford is the recognized expert in his field as seen on numerous media outlets and by his long list of Google 5 Star reviews. Other oral surgeons, dentists, maxillofacial surgeons regularly refer their most difficult patients to Dr. Wolford because of his superior knowledge, capabilities, and life-changing results.

Contact Dr. Wolford’s Staff for a Free Initial Telephone Consultation.

Office Location:

Larry M. Wolford, DMD

Baylor University Medical Center, Worth Street Tower 3409 Worth Street, Suite 400, Dallas, TX 75246

Experience Matters

Dr. Larry Wolford / Web Decoration
Dr. Larry Wolford has over 40 years of complex surgical experience

Dr. Larry Wolford has over 40 years of complex surgical experience

65% of his practice are patients referred from all over the USA and other countries

65% of his practice are patients referred from all over the USA and other countries

Developed many innovative procedures that are the current jaw surgical techniques

Developed many innovative procedures that are the current jaw surgical techniques

Listens to the patient and answers questions with care and compassionate

Listens to the patient and answers questions with care and compassionate