We’re very pleased to be able to offer sleep apnea treatment for our patients who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea or OSA. If you’ve been told that you snore while you sleep and may suspect that you have sleep apnea, our Liverpool, NY family dentist, Dr. Charu Saini can help you get the restful sleep you need for better overall health.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a very common and potentially serious sleep disorder that affects roughly 20 million Americans, with many of them never receiving a proper diagnosis. When someone has obstructive sleep apnea, their breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. The symptoms include loud snoring while asleep, restless sleep, and daytime sleepiness & irritability.
The disruptions in breathing common with sleep apnea are a result of a blocked airway. The affected person will unknowingly stop breathing repeatedly throughout sleep. During sleep, the muscles that support the soft tissues in the throat temporarily relax, causing the airway to narrow or close, wherein breathing is temporarily cut off. Once the airway is opened, the person may snort, take a deep breath, or awaken completely with a sensation of gasping, smothering, or choking.
In addition to the loud snoring, poor quality sleep, daytime sleepiness, and irritability that comes in with sleep apnea, there are some hidden dangers of OSA that aren’t as obvious. Untreated sleep apnea can lead to some serious health problems like:
Chronic fatigue
Weight gain
Depression
High blood pressure
Heart disease
Stroke
Untreated sleep apnea can also raise the risk of being involved in motor vehicle and workplace accidents and negatively impact close personal relationships. For all these reasons and more, it’s important that you seek treatment if you snore or suspect you suffer from sleep apnea.
Dr. Saini offers oral appliance therapy which is a proven, effective treatment for snoring and mild forms of sleep apnea. This therapy involves the use of special oral appliances which are designed to correct the positioning of the mouth and throat during sleep to keep the airway open. This sleep apnea treatment is often a good alternative for people who cannot tolerate a CPAP machine, which is a more aggressive type of OSA treatment.
If you snore or have been told that you have obstructive sleep apnea and would like to know if oral appliance therapy is right for you, please call our office at (315) 453-2084 to schedule an appointment. After she examines you and speaks with you about your symptoms, Dr. Saini will recommend the right treatment solution for you. We look forward to helping you get the restful sleep you need to live a full and happy life!
