Don’t hit “snooze” on easy sleep apnea treatment at the dentist’s office
Sleep apnea treatment is now available at your dentist’s office. From our office in Montville, New Jersey, Ferrari Dental is pleased to offer a range of solutions that not only enhance the very best in your smile but also restore and maintain your overall health and well-being.
What is sleep apnea?
This potentially serious disorder is characterized by interruptions in breathing during sleep. In fact, some patients may awaken 50 or more times every hour due to these interruptions. Sleep apnea causes persistent fatigue and is a risk factor for workplace and auto accidents, as well as for depression, stroke, heart disease, and other conditions that affect your health and quality of life.
What happens with sleep apnea?
The most common type of sleep apnea, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), occurs as the tissues in the back of the throat collapse. When the tonsils, tongue, and soft palate block the airflow through the windpipe, patients are temporarily unable to breathe. They wake up abruptly, gasping for air. This cycle of hypopneas (partial reductions in breathing) and apneas (complete pauses in breathing) occurs throughout the night, and each episode can last between 10 and 30 seconds.
How does OSA cause so many health problems?
Fragmented sleep results in excessive and persistent daytime sleepiness. This affects both your productivity and safety at work, as well as when driving to and from work. Those with this sleep-related breathing disorder are more likely to have accidents on the road or on the job. Additionally, the reduction in blood oxygen saturation takes a substantial toll on your internal organs. Consider how oxygen levels may fall by 40% or more during these pauses in breathing. This lack of proper oxygenation, day in and day out, is associated with a range of severe complications, not limited to:
- High blood pressure
- Heart attackÂ
- Coronary artery diseaseÂ
- Heart failure
- Irregular heartbeat
- StrokeÂ
- Type 2 diabetesÂ
- Metabolic syndrome
- Cognitive declineÂ
- Mood disorders
- Chronic kidney disease
- Glaucoma
What are the symptoms of OSA?
The most common symptoms are very loud and habitual snoring, broken up by periods of silence that occur when airflow is either reduced or blocked. As the brain alerts the body to the lack of oxygen, patients with OSA may choke, snort, or gasp when they briefly arise from sleep, and as the airway opens and breathing is restored.
How is OSA treated?
The most common treatment is a CPAP machine. Attached to a facemask worn during sleep, the machine provides a constant flow of air under mild pressure. While very effective, it isn’t easy to adapt to, with some describing it as akin to sleeping while wearing scuba gear. Surgery, too, can be an effective option, but most recommend a conservative approach. At Ferrari Dental, we design nonsurgical oral appliances. These appliances effectively manage mild to moderate OSA.
How do oral appliances work?
Some devices work by advancing or moving the lower jaw forward. This adjusts the tissues in the throat, preventing them from blocking your airway while you sleep. These appliances are easy to wear and easy to adapt to. They are also not noisy, and they require minimal upkeep. You can transport and store them in a small case.
Get a new lease on life with easy yet effective oral appliances! Contact our Montville, NJ office at (973) 263-2967 to learn more.
