If you have sleep apnea, you know how it can take over your life. Since you struggle to breathe while you sleep, you don’t get adequate rest, and you always feel tired. It can take a toll on your partner as well since they have to put up with the loud, forceful snoring that characterizes sleep apnea.
The Dangers of Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a severe sleep-related breathing disorder. It occurs when you fall asleep and the muscles in your tongue and throat relax, closing up your airway and making it difficult or impossible to breathe. Patients with sleep apnea experience pauses in breathing that can last for several minutes and occur hundreds of times a night.
Until recently, the first line of treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) was a CPAP machine and mask. Continuous Positive Airway Pressure forces the airway to stay open to allow the patient to breathe easily. The problem has always been that patients resist wearing the CPAP mask because it can be bulky and uncomfortable.
While sleep specialists still recommend a CPAP mask for patients with severe sleep apnea, those with mild to moderate sleep apnea may benefit from a comfortable, customized oral device available at our Northport, NY dental office. The device fits over your upper and lower teeth and is designed to position your jaw slightly forward while you sleep. This movement prevents your airway from closing up so you can rest easy, breathe easily, and get the good night’s sleep you so desperately need.
Call Us about Sleep Apnea Treatment
Sleep apnea is a dangerous disorder that leads to reduced blood oxygen levels that can increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and fatigue-related motor vehicle accidents.
If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea and are currently struggling with a CPAP machine, please call Northport Family Dental. Dr. Jeffrey Rubin will be happy to coordinate with your physician to see if a customized sleep apnea device is the healthiest choice for you.