Sleep Apnea
What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)?
Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder in which a person’s breathing is interrupted while asleep.People with undiagnosed sleep apnea stop breathing repeatedly while sleeping, sometimeshundreds of times. Obstructive Sleep Apnea is caused by a blockage of the airway, usually whenthe soft tissue in the back of the throat collapses during sleep. This is a dangerous conditionbecause it means that the body and the brain may not get enough oxygen.
Lack of oxygen (oxygen deprivation) over time has been shown to cause and/or contribute tomany other serious health issues, also known as comorbidities, such as; diabetes, strokes, heartdisease, heart attacks, heart failure, irregular heartbeats, and high blood pressure.
If you experience the symptoms below and/or loud snoring, especially snoring that's punctuatedby periods of silence, contact Van Liew a dentist in Forked River to see how we can help.609-242-3567
Treatment Options
What are the most common treatment options?
Mild Sleep Apnea: Behavioral and lifestyle changes recommended i.e. sleeping on your side vsyour back and may also include losing weight, smoking cessation and allergy treatments.
Oral Appliance: These can be used to position the mouth in such a way that it prevents throatblockage. These are designed to open your throat by bringing your jaw forward, which cansometimes relieve snoring and mild obstructive sleep apnea.
LouAnn Van Liew explains, “Our advanced equipment makes us unique in that we can accuratelymeasure and determine if a patient would be successful in our treatment before any money isspent on the sleep apnea oral appliance. We are proud to say that we have a high success rate inour treatment.”
LouAnn Van Liew will help you try different night guard appliances to find the one that works best foryou. Once you find the right fit for your custom made device, you will still need to follow upwith LouAnn Van Liew repeatedly during the first year and then regularly after that to ensure that the fitis still good and to reassess your signs and symptoms. We know you will see considerableimprovement in your health and performance throughout the day if you faithfully wear theappliance while sleeping.
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) : a machine that delivers air pressure through amask placed over your nose while you sleep.
Do you currently have a CPAP but are non-compliant i.e. don't use it? LouAnn Van Liew offersalternatives for CPAP intolerant patients. A non-invasive oral appliance may be the solution.
Surgery : Is usually only an option after other treatments have failed. Generally, at least athree-month trial of other treatment options is suggested before considering surgery. However,for those few people with certain jaw structure problems, it's a good first option.
Contact us today to discuss your Sleep Apnea symptoms and treatment options!
Are you experiencing any of these common Sleep Apnea symptoms?
- Insomnia or difficulty sleeping
- Loud snoring
- Waking up at night gasping or short of breath
- Snorting or choking sounds during the night
- Migraines and/or headaches upon waking
- Falling asleep unintentionally during the day
- Extreme drowsiness during the day
- Increased resting heart rate
- Increased blood pressure
- Attention problems
- Irritability
Am I at risk for Sleep Apnea? Some of the most common risk factors include :
- Male gender
- Being overweight
- Over the age of 40
- Having a large neck size, that of 17 inches or greater in men and 16 inches or greater in women
- Having large tonsils, large tongue, or small jaw bone
- A familial history
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)dr
- Nasal obstruction due to deviated septum, allergies, or sinus problems
Is it important to get Sleep Apnea treated?
Although you may consider your snoring to be a minor inconvenience, Obstructive Sleep Apnea(OSA) is a serious medical condition and can contribute to various complications if left untreatedincluding hypersomnia-also known as daytime fatigue, headaches and mood changes includingdepression.
Because of repeated drops of oxygen in the body, sleep apnea can increase blood pressure andundue strain on the cardiovascular system increasing your risk of stroke, heart disease, heartfailure, irregular heart beats, and heart attacks. Sleep apnea has also been linked to Type 2Diabetes and insulin resistance. Be sure to inform your doctor about sleep apnea before anysurgery or medications as you will be more prone to breathing problems when sedated or lyingon your back. Please call LouAnn Van Liew a dentist in Forked River for a free consultation to see howwe can help you avoid these complications.
Children and Sleep Apnea
Did you know it’s estimated that 1 to 4 percent of children suffer from sleep apnea, many of them being between 2 and 8 years old? Studies have suggested that as many as 25 percent of children diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may actually be suffering the consequences of chronic fragmented sleep due to sleep apnea which is visible in daytime fatigue, learning difficulty, hyperactivity and behavior problems.
What can you do? The most common treatment for pediatric sleep apnea is surgical removal ofboth the adenoids and tonsils which generally eliminates sleep apnea symptoms in 70-90 percentof the cases. Another noninvasive option are oral appliances which are especially helpful foradolescents whose facial bone growth is largely complete. A dentist in Forked River, call LouAnn Van Liew today for a free consultation to see how we can help your child sleep better and feelbetter.
Complimentary Consultation
Early identification and diagnosis of Sleep Apnea is important as it can often (if not always)eliminate the need for surgical procedures, which are both costly and often overly invasive“solutions” for an issue that may be addressed through appropriate dental solutions.
Trouble sleeping in Forked River We encourage you to schedule a personal consultation todayto see how LouAnn Van Liew can help you finally get a good night’s sleep!
Call 609-242-3567 NOW to schedule your Complimentary Consultation or fill in the following form and we will contact you as soon as possible.