Do you snore loudly, or wake up repeatedly during the night gasping for air?
Sleep apnea is a health condition that can cause many health concerns. Obstructive sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that can take a toll on your health and quality of life. It can affect your physical and emotional well being. It may even affect your personal relationships. Many people who suffer from this sleep problem do not even know they have it. A proper diagnosis and treatment will help you enjoy better health.
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that occurs when your airway becomes blocked or partially blocked during sleep. This occurs when the soft tissue in the back of the throat relax and then collapse. This will obstruct airflow making it difficult for you to breathe. When this occurs, you are depriving the body of the amount of oxygen it needs to operate.
Patients with sleep apnea may snore loudly or wake up gasping for air repeatedly while they sleep. If you have sleep apnea, you may notice that it is hard to get a full night’s rest. Sleep deprivation is harmful to the body’s systems and the function of the brain.
Sleep apnea is directly related to an increased risk of conditions that impact the mind and body. A patient who has sleep apnea may feel constantly tired, irritable, and have difficulty focusing on a single task.
- Chronic day time fatigue
- Depression
- Irritability
- Headaches
- Difficulty concentrating
- Loud snoring
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, be sure to notify your doctor or dentist. While your dentist may not be the first person you think of for treatment, Dr. Pop and our dental care team provide effective solutions.
Treating Sleep Apnea at Bella Smiles
Bella Smiles offers oral sleep appliance therapy in Riverhead, Roslyn, and Nesconset. An oral sleep appliance is a discreet and comfortable alternative to the CPAP machine. The CPAP machine is the traditional option for helping patients breathe while sleeping. This bulky and uncomfortable machine often annoys patients and makes it difficult to get comfortable when trying to sleep.
Oral sleep appliance therapy is similar to wearing a sports mouthguard. The oral appliance is small and easy to transport. A dental lab will make the oral appliance fit comfortably and securely over the teeth.
You will wear the appliance while you are sleeping. It will reposition the jaw to keep the airway free from obstruction. Patients often feel an immediate improvement in their mood and experience a decrease in daily headaches and discomfort. The oral sleep appliance allows patients to receive a proper amount of oxygen during the night.
If you or your partner snores or experiences any of the symptoms of sleep apnea, please schedule a consultation with one of our dentists in Riverhead, Roslyn, or Nesconset. Our dental care team will perform an oral health and sleep apnea screening to determine if oral appliance therapy is right for you. In some cases, we may coordinate with your general physician.