Sleep Apnea Treatment in New City, NY

Understanding Sleep Apnea: A Serious Sleep Disorder

Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder that affects millions of Americans, causing breathing stops during sleep. The word “apnea” literally means no breathing—an event where breathing patterns become abnormal and a person temporarily stops breathing. There are three main types of sleep apnea, with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) being the most prevalent form. As the name implies, this type of sleep apnea occurs when throat muscles relax excessively, causing the upper airway to become blocked.

Symptoms of sleep apnea vary in severity but commonly include loud snoring, gasping or choking sounds during sleep, repeated awakenings, restless or fitful sleep, poor sleep quality, and excessive daytime sleepiness. If you experience daytime fatigue or trouble concentrating, these may indicate untreated sleep apnea requiring professional evaluation.

Central Sleep Apnea represents another type of sleep apnea where the brain fails to send proper breathing signals to chest muscles during sleep. Some patients experience both obstructive and central sleep apnea, a condition known as complex or mixed sleep apnea.

Why Sleep Apnea Treatment is Critical

Untreated sleep apnea poses significant health risks beyond poor sleep quality. When breathing stops repeatedly throughout the night, it causes sudden drops in blood oxygen levels. This triggers your cardiovascular system to work overtime, placing tremendous stress on your body instead of allowing it to rest and recover.

Sleep apnea complications can be severe and life-threatening. Research shows that sleep apnea increases the risk of:

• High blood pressure and heart disease: The strain on your cardiovascular system from repeated oxygen deprivation can lead to hypertension
• Metabolic syndrome: A cluster of conditions including high blood sugar, abnormal cholesterol levels, increased waist circumference, and elevated blood pressure
• Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: Studies link sleep apnea to liver scarring and abnormal liver function
• Insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes: Poor sleep affects how your body processes glucose
• Hormonal disorders affecting growth and stress hormones
• Chronic lung diseases and respiratory complications

In severe cases, these serious complications can lead to stroke, heart attack, or even sudden death, particularly in patients with severe sleep apnea. Major surgery also becomes riskier for those with undiagnosed sleep apnea due to complications with anesthesia and sleeping pills.

Recognizing When You Need a Sleep Study

If you experience symptoms of sleep apnea or daytime sleepiness that interferes with daily activities, it’s crucial to seek evaluation. A sleep specialist at a sleep center or sleep clinic can perform an overnight test to diagnose sleep apnea. This comprehensive sleep study monitors your breathing patterns, oxygen levels, and sleep stages in your own bed (for home studies) or at the facility.

Even mild sleep apnea requires attention, as it can progress to moderate sleep apnea or severe sleep apnea without intervention. The field of sleep medicine has advanced significantly, offering multiple treatment options tailored to your specific needs and comfort level.

Comprehensive Sleep Apnea Diagnosis at Rockland Dental Specialists

At our practice, we work closely with sleep medicine professionals to ensure accurate sleep apnea diagnosis. When suspected obstructive sleep apnea is identified during routine dental examinations, we can refer you to appropriate specialists in internal medicine or sleep disorders for comprehensive evaluation.

Our dentists are trained to recognize the oral and facial indicators of sleep disorders, including:

• Worn teeth from nighttime grinding
• Enlarged tonsils or soft tissue abnormalities
• Jaw structure that may contribute to airway obstruction
• Signs of mouth breathing or dry mouth

How Dentists Treat Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea involves a closure or blockage of the airway. There are many ways to open the airway in an OSA case, and traditional treatments include CPAP (Continuous Positive Air Pressure) devices, surgeries to enlarge the airway or clear nasal passages, and oral appliance therapy. OSA is a complex sleep disorder that often requires a multidisciplinary approach to treatment.

Once sleep apnea is diagnosed through proper channels, your treatment plan may involve collaboration between your sleep physician, ENT specialist, oral and maxillofacial surgeon, and/or dentist, depending on the severity and type of sleep apnea you have.

Oral Appliances: A Comfortable Alternative for Sleep Apnea Treatment

Many patients struggle with CPAP machines that deliver continuous air pressure throughout the night. For those unable to tolerate CPAP therapy, oral appliances offer an effective alternative for treating mild to moderate sleep apnea.

Risk factors that oral appliances address include:

• Obesity and excess weight contributing to airway collapse
• Large neck circumference placing pressure on throat muscles
• Poor jaw alignment restricting the upper airway
• Increased body weight affecting breathing mechanics

These mandibular advancement devices work by gently pulling the lower jaw forward, which:

• Opens the collapsed upper airway
• Prevents throat muscles from blocking breathing
• Reduces the frequency of breathing stops
• Improves overall oxygen flow during sleep

Scientific Evidence Supporting Oral Appliance Therapy

Multiple randomized clinical trials published by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute demonstrate the effectiveness of oral appliances for appropriate candidates. Studies show significant improvements in:

• Reduction of apnea events
• Decreased blood pressure in hypertensive patients
• Improved daytime sleepiness scores
• Better quality of life measures

What to Expect from Your Sleep Apnea Appliance

To create your custom sleep apnea appliance, your dentist will take detailed molds or high-definition intraoral scans of your teeth and jaw relationship. With precise measurements, a dental laboratory fabricates the sleep appliance according to your dentist’s specific instructions. You’ll return for a fitting appointment with comprehensive instructions for care and use.

The adjustment period is normal and expected. Most patients need time to adapt to wearing the appliance and the forward jaw position. To help you fall asleep comfortably with your new appliance, we recommend wearing it during waking hours initially—while watching TV or doing light activities. This helps your mouth adjust to the sensation.

You may experience increased salivation at first as your body adapts. With consistent use, these temporary effects subside, and you’ll enjoy:

• Improved sleep quality without repeated awakenings
• Reduced or eliminated snoring
• Better daytime energy and reduced trouble concentrating
• Improved overall health markers, including blood pressure
• A happier sleeping partner

Take Action Against Sleep Apnea Today

Don’t let untreated sleep apnea continue to impact your health and quality of life. Whether you’re experiencing excessive daytime sleepiness, have been told you snore loudly, or have other symptoms of sleep apnea, professional evaluation and treatment can make a dramatic difference. Contact us today at 845-259-2500 to speak with one of our team members about the dental services we perform using state-of-the-art procedures, or book an appointment online here.