Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea reduces the oxygen levels in your blood with widespread health consequences. If you have sleep apnea, visit Shabani Dental in La Crescenta, California. The team of experienced dental experts provides oral devices and performs sinus lift surgery to resolve sleep apnea and restore health. Call Shabani Dental today to discuss sleep apnea treatments or request an appointment by completing the online booking form.

What is sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea involves repeated breathing disruptions during the night when you’re asleep. It’s a serious disorder that may become life-threatening. There are several types:

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)

If you have OSA, the muscles at the back of your throat become overly relaxed. As a result, your airway narrows and, in severe cases, may completely close. This means you won’t be breathing in enough air, and there’ll be less oxygen in your blood. Reduced oxygen in the blood reaching your brain prompts it to awaken you, returning the airway to normal.

Central sleep apnea

With this less common form of sleep apnea, the brain doesn’t send the correct signals to the muscles lining your airway. Consequently, your body stops trying to breathe at all, causing you to awaken.

Some people have complex sleep apnea syndrome, where both conditions co-occur.

Risk factors increasing your likelihood of developing sleep apnea include excess body weight, large neck measurements, older age, and using alcohol or sedative medications. Men experience sleep apnea more often than women.

After a sleep apnea diagnosis from their physician, many patients turn to dental appliances, such as those available at Shabani Dental, as an option to maintain their health with the condition.

What symptoms might sleep apnea cause?

Many people don’t realize they have sleep apnea because they don’t remember the brief moments they awake at night. Likely indicators that you have sleep apnea include:

• Loud, persistent snoring
• Waking up gasping for air
• Extremely dry mouth
• Morning headaches
• Excessive daytime sleepiness
• Short attention span
• Irritability

Sometimes, it’s only when someone else notices a person stops breathing at night that they know there’s a problem.

What dental treatment might I need for sleep apnea?

Mild sleep apnea might improve if you treat allergies or sinus problems affecting your airways and make changes like losing weight and quitting smoking. Dentistry-based treatments for more severe or persistent sleep apnea include:

Surgery

Shabani Dental’s oral surgeons perform direct and indirect sinus lift procedures. These surgeries treat sleep apnea by ensuring your airway won’t become blocked during sleep.

Oral devices

Shabani Dental makes and fits oral devices that you wear to bed. The devices pull your jaw forward, preventing your throat muscles from narrowing and ensuring your airway remains open.

Call Shabani Dental today to learn more about sleep apnea treatment or schedule a consultation using the online booking feature.