Sleep Apnea Treatment
Do you ever feel like no matter how long you sleep, it’s not enough? Does your bed partner complain about your snoring? Are you dozing off in the afternoon or feel like you always need to take a nap? If so, you might be suffering from obstructive sleep apnea.
What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
Obstructive sleep apnea is a chronic condition that occurs when your muscles relax during sleep, allowing soft tissue to collapse and block the airway. This can cause you to stop breathing hundreds of times per night for anywhere from a few seconds to more than a minute at a time. These breathing pauses are followed by brief awakenings that disturb the quality of your sleep.
Commom Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
Why It Matters - health effects of sleep apnea
Untreated sleep apnea can increase the risk of:
Some common questions
When it comes to Obstructive Sleep Apnea, what is a CPAP machine?
CPAP stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. These machines are one of the most common solutions for people with OSA.
How does a CPAP machine help?
A CPAP machine keeps your airways open while you're sleeping using positive air pressure.
Are there disadvantages of using a CPAP machine?
CPAP machines can be quite inconvenient to use. You need to wear a face mask, connected to a machine with a hose, making it difficult to find a comfortable sleeping position. Cleaning and regular maintenance of these machines is a challenge, and if not done properly, it can lead to infections and other issues. They are also a hassle to carry if you need to travel.
Is there an alternative for CPAP?
Yes. Qualified dentists like Dr. Anu Sharma can help you with an Oral appliance therapy. This is a device that is like a mouth guard and you wear it during sleep to maintain an open, unobstructed airway. We create these devices from custom dental impressions. The oral appliance is fitted and adjusted to ensure proper fit and maximum effectiveness. The benefit is that oral appliances are easy to use. They are also easy to clean and you can easily carry them when going on overnight trips. These oral appliances are also comfortable, noninvasive, noise-free and less obtrusive compared to CPAP.
Don’t worry – we can help. Dr Sharma provides the highest quality of care for our patients suffering from sleep related breathing problems including sleep apnea and snoring . She has earned a Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine qualification after undergoing their rigorous program and board exam. In addition to the numerous continuous education courses she attends every year, she also trained at the prestigious UCSF mini residency in 2017. She can help fabricate an Oral appliance that can reduce or eliminate snoring while managing sleep apnea without masks or hoses.
Here is a quick video from AADSM about how we can help you.
What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
Obstructive sleep apnea is a chronic condition that occurs when your muscles relax during sleep, allowing soft tissue to collapse and block the airway. This can cause you to stop breathing hundreds of times per night for anywhere from a few seconds to more than a minute at a time. These breathing pauses are followed by brief awakenings that disturb the quality of your sleep.
Commom Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
- Loud snoring
- Episodes of stopped breathing during sleep (often noticed by a partner)
- Gasping for air during sleep
- Waking with a dry mouth or sore throat
- Morning headache
- Difficulty staying asleep (insomnia)
- Excessive daytime sleepiness (hypersomnia)
- Difficulty concentrating
- Irritability
- Sore jaws and teeth ( often caused by bruxism , or teeth grinding )
Why It Matters - health effects of sleep apnea
Untreated sleep apnea can increase the risk of:
- High blood pressure and other cardiovascular problems
- Stroke
- Type 2 diabetes and other metabolic/ endocrine disorders
- Daytime fatigue and cognitive impairment
- Depression or mood disorders and other mental heath issues
- Weakened immune system
Some common questions
When it comes to Obstructive Sleep Apnea, what is a CPAP machine?
CPAP stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. These machines are one of the most common solutions for people with OSA.
How does a CPAP machine help?
A CPAP machine keeps your airways open while you're sleeping using positive air pressure.
Are there disadvantages of using a CPAP machine?
CPAP machines can be quite inconvenient to use. You need to wear a face mask, connected to a machine with a hose, making it difficult to find a comfortable sleeping position. Cleaning and regular maintenance of these machines is a challenge, and if not done properly, it can lead to infections and other issues. They are also a hassle to carry if you need to travel.
Is there an alternative for CPAP?
Yes. Qualified dentists like Dr. Anu Sharma can help you with an Oral appliance therapy. This is a device that is like a mouth guard and you wear it during sleep to maintain an open, unobstructed airway. We create these devices from custom dental impressions. The oral appliance is fitted and adjusted to ensure proper fit and maximum effectiveness. The benefit is that oral appliances are easy to use. They are also easy to clean and you can easily carry them when going on overnight trips. These oral appliances are also comfortable, noninvasive, noise-free and less obtrusive compared to CPAP.
Don’t worry – we can help. Dr Sharma provides the highest quality of care for our patients suffering from sleep related breathing problems including sleep apnea and snoring . She has earned a Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine qualification after undergoing their rigorous program and board exam. In addition to the numerous continuous education courses she attends every year, she also trained at the prestigious UCSF mini residency in 2017. She can help fabricate an Oral appliance that can reduce or eliminate snoring while managing sleep apnea without masks or hoses.
Here is a quick video from AADSM about how we can help you.