Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder caused by interupted breathing during sleep. People who have untreated sleep apnea stop breathing repeatedly during sleep-sometimes hundreds of times and may not get enough oxygen.
Many patients who cannot tolerate a CPAP machine are wonderful candidates for dental sleep apnea therapy. By wearing a oral appliance at bedtime one can reduce or eliminate the harmful effects of sleep apnea.
You can read more about sleep apnea here; http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/sleep-apnea/sleep-apnea