Snoring, waking up, feeling tired—these symptoms could all indicate you have sleep apnea. Ranging in severity from being a simple nuisance to being a life-threatening condition, sleep apnea can have an extreme effect on your overall health, but rest assured, Dr. Paul Dionne of Glen Ridge Dental Arts & New Jersey Dental Sleep Medicine can help. A sleep dentistry expert in Glen Ridge, NJ, Dr. Dionne can help you sleep better and feel your best.
The particulars on sleep apnea
The American Sleep Apnea Association says that more than 20 million people in the US have sleep apnea, and about 80 percent of them have Obstructive Sleep Apnea, or OSA. Characterized by airway blockage. loud snoring, and recurring waking/breathing cessation, OSA causes relationship problems and fatigue.
Beyond that, the American Sleep Apnea Association says the resulting oxygen deprivation cause body-wide health issues such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, hypertension, dementia, and arthritis. These are serious problems which you need to address. Fortunately, sleep dentistry from our New Jersey office can help.
What you should do
See your primary care physician about your symptoms. They may recommend simple lifestyle changes such as losing weight, limiting food and alcohol before bedtime, and sleeping on your side. Alternatively, your doctor may send you to a sleep physician for a fully-monitored test to pinpoint your sleep pattern and vital signs during the night. With a confirmed diagnosis of sleep apnea, you may be referred to Glen Ridge Dental Arts & New Jersey Dental Sleep Medicine for treatment.
Treating sleep apnea
Both OSA and CSA (Central Sleep Apnea which involves interrupted signals between the lungs and brain) may be treated with CPAP machines. These bedside instruments deliver a stream of air through a hose and facial mask into the back of the throat. This air forces the soft tissues at the back of the throat open so you keep breathing.
However, CPAP often proves claustrophobic or noisy. Patients find the machines cumbersome and difficult to travel with. So, treatment compliance falls off.
At our New Jersey office, Dr. Dionne advises the use of a common sleep dentistry tool—the oral appliance. Customized to fit comfortably in the patient's mouth, this acrylic guard positions the lower jaw forward. The result is an open airway, little to no snoring, and continuous, restful sleep. Furthermore, oral appliances are quiet and usable anywhere, with no electrical hook-up needed.
Sleep well, feel great
A good night's sleep is priceless. Get yours with help from your sleep dentistry expert in New Jersey, Dr. Paul Dionne. Call Glen Ridge Dental Arts & New Jersey Dental Sleep Medicine today for your personal consultation: (973) 748-7790.