When a person lays down at night, the throat may become constricted and limit the airway, which causes snoring and sleep apnea. Oral appliance therapy (O.A.T.) helps treat sleep apnea and snoring with custom mouth guards. Dr. Wally Cantu and our Crown Dental team in West Richland, WA work with numerous patients who are tired of losing precious sleep, while experiencing a number of other symptoms due to sleep apnea. While some patients may require a more in-depth treatment approach, many times a snore guard is all that is needed. Also known as a night guard, this device, which is custom fit inside our dental office, keeps the jaw in an optimal position to allow enough oxygen to reach the body during sleep. If not treated, sleep apnea can lead to many larger problems, including: Fatigue Snoring High blood pressure Heart conditions Weight gain Dr. Cantu will most likely recommend patients partake in a sleep study to confirm their sleep apnea and go over possible treatments.