Sleep Apnea Devices
Do you suffer from excessive snoring? Do you wake up feeling tired after sleeping all night? Is your partner threatening to sleep on the couch because of all of the noise you make during the night? All of these are classic signs of a condition known as sleep apnea. If you struggle with sleep apnea, it’s often the dentist who can help with sleep apnea devices in Brooklyn, NY. If you want to sleep better and stop the risks associated with this common condition, reach out to Sconzo & Sciascia General, Cosmetic, and Family Dentistry for help.
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a very common condition that occurs when someone stops breathing while they are asleep. This can be due to a brain condition known as central sleep apnea, in which the brain doesn’t tell the body to breathe during sleep, or a medical condition known as obstructive sleep apnea, which occurs when something closes the upper airways while you sleep. In most cases of obstructive sleep apnea, it is the tongue or soft palate tissue that gets in the way of your breathing.
Sleep apnea has a number of causes and risk factors. For many, the weakening of the muscles that come as they age allows the soft palate and tongue to cover the airway while they sleep. Obesity, which adds fat around the neck, can also increase someone’s risk. Hormonal changes can also add risk for sleep apnea because of the impact of hormones on soft tissue.
What Are the Symptoms of Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea causes someone to snore excessively. When they stop breathing, they may gasp and struggle to breathe. While this does not cause them to fully wake, it disrupts their sleep enough that they feel tired when they get up in the morning, even after supposedly sleeping all night.
What Are the Risks of Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is an annoyance to both you and your partner, but it’s more than just a frustrating condition. If left untreated, sleep apnea can be quite dangerous. When you are losing oxygen at night and not getting enough sleep, your risk for multiple serious health conditions increases, including:
- Cardiovascular disease: You have an increased risk of heart attack, high blood pressure, and stroke with sleep apnea.
- Diabetes: The risk of developing type 2 diabetes increases with sleep apnea.
- Organ damage: When your body has to try to start breathing again while you sleep, it increases your risk of damage to your organs.
- Mental health risks: When you aren’t sleeping, you may suffer from depression and anxiety during the day
In addition, sleep apnea increases the risk of daytime sleepiness. If you’re overly sleepy during the day, you can increase your risk of having an accident, which can leave lasting damage.
How Is Sleep Apnea Treated?
Sleep apnea is treated in two ways. First, many patients benefit from lifestyle changes. Losing weight or changing your sleep position may reduce the risk of having sleep apnea. Second, most patients need to use a sleep apnea device to help them breathe while they sleep. This is where your dentist at Sconzo & Sciascia General, Cosmetic, and Family Dentistry can help.
What Are Sleep Apnea Devices?
Sleep apnea devices are devices that manually keep the airway open and remind you to breathe. You wear the device while you sleep, and you are able to sleep more soundly without the risks of sleep apnea. There are two basic options to consider for sleep apnea devices in Brooklyn, NY.
CPAP
The CPAP is the gold standard for sleep apnea treatment. This device features a face mask connected to a pump that provides continuous air pressure while you sleep. You must wear the mask and keep the tubes connected while you sleep. Some varieties of machines that are similar to the CPAP are the auto-adjusting positive airway pressure (APAP) machine and the bilevel positive airway pressure (BPAP) machine, both of which deliver pressure like the CPAP but in a slightly different pattern.
CPAP must be prescribed by a medical doctor, but your dental team can help with questions about fit and use.
Oral Devices
Oral devices work for those people who cannot sleep comfortably with CPAP. For many, these are a better solution that’s less cumbersome and allows for a more natural sleep pattern. Oral devices are what we offer at Sconzo & Sciascia General, Cosmetic, and Family Dentistry, as these are custom-fit by your dentist to ensure comfortable use.
An oral device fits in your mouth to stop your airway from getting blocked while you sleep. There are three basic types, which are:
- Tongue-retraining device: If your tongue is the culprit of your sleep apnea, this device will hold it forward in your mouth so it doesn’t fall backward and block your airway.
- Mandibular repositioning mouthpiece: This device covers your teeth and holds your jaw in place so the lower jaw doesn’t slide backward and allow the airway to close.
- Neuromuscular electrical stimulation device: This device stimulates the tongue and upper airway muscles, so they get stronger and don’t slide backward to cover the airway during your sleep. Unlike the other devices, NMES are worn while you are awake to tone the muscles so you can sleep better later.
If you are unsure which type of device will work best for you, our dental team can help. We can measure your mouth and discuss your sleep apnea symptoms to choose the right device. Then, we will custom-make it to fit your specific needs and mouth shape so you can enjoy the benefits of restful sleep.
Schedule a Consultation to Discuss Sleep Apnea Devices in Brooklyn, NY
Sleep apnea treatment is vital to your health and wellness. If you are struggling with sleep apnea, reach out to the Brooklyn, NY, dental team at Sconzo & Sciascia General, Cosmetic, and Family Dentistry to schedule an appointment for sleep apnea device evaluation. Give us a call at 718-339-0252 to schedule an initial consultation.
