If you suffer from sleep apnea, our doctors can help you find relief. We offer lifestyle counseling that can help alleviate many symptoms. And for the right patients, we can provide customized oral splints that reposition your jaw and open your airways so you can sleep soundly throughout the night. If you are in need of more intensive therapy, we can refer you to a local sleep specialist.
If you wake up every morning feeling exhausted or you struggle with chronic headaches or irritability, you may suffer from obstructive sleep apnea. This condition occurs when your soft palate, tongue, or throat muscles block your airways during sleep, causing you to wake up or move to a lighter stage of sleep. Drs. Lewis Ricciuti, James Albanese, and Jennifer Moore offer effective, personalized sleep apnea treatment at their Levittown practice. Customized oral splints can realign your jaw during the night and prevent your soft tissues from blocking your airway. Contact our practice today to learn more about sleep apnea treatment and how we can help you find relief.
Sleep apnea is categorized as central (CSA) or obstructive (OSA). CSA is a fairly rare condition, in which your brain does not receive the proper signals during sleep, causing breathing to cease. Because CSA involves neurological dysfunction, we do not treat this type of sleep apnea. OSA is far more common, and occurs when the throat or soft palate collapses and repeatedly blocks the airway during sleep. OSA most frequently affects overweight males over the age of 40, but women and children of all body types can also struggle with the disorder.
Each time sleep apnea causes you to stop breathing; you will partially or fully wake up. If you suffer from the condition, you may never feel fully rested, even if you get eight or more hours of sleep each night. Other common symptoms of sleep apnea include:
In addition to the toll that sleep apnea can take on your daily life, the condition can also have serious consequences for your long-term health. A consistent lack of quality sleep can lead to elevated blood pressure, and an increased risk for stroke, congestive heart failure, and heart disease. Severe fatigue can also turn everyday activities, such as driving, into serious risks.
There are a number of effective treatments for sleep apnea. At 4Excellence in Dentistry, we use custom-created oral splints. These devices realign your jaw to prevent your soft tissues from falling and blocking your airway. Oral splints are also very helpful to reduce or eliminate snoring. Additionally, lifestyle changes, such as weight loss, a change in sleeping position, and quitting smoking, may be sufficient to alleviate your sleep apnea. Our doctors will carefully monitor your improvement and ensure you are an active participant in your care.
If you do not respond to more conservative treatment, you may benefit from a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine, which keeps your airways open with a constant, gentle stream of air. In particularly severe cases, your doctor may recommend surgery to reduce soft tissue or correct a deviated septum. If necessary, we can refer you to a local sleep specialist for more intensive treatment.
If sleep apnea is taking a toll on your life, it is time to get the better night’s sleep you deserve. By treating the condition with a simple, non-invasive oral splint, you can enjoy a better quality of life and improved health for years to come. Contact our office today to schedule your first appointment.
