Morningside Dental Care - New York, NY
Sleep Apnea
Sleep Apnea Treatment in New York, NY
Upwards of 35% of Americans have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and 75% of people with severe sleep apnea are undiagnosed. OSA is due to either a partial or complete blockage in the back of the throat and or tongue during sleep. When the blockage occurs, your brain and vital organs are deprived of life-sustaining oxygen. It may occur hundreds of times during the night. Left untreated, OSA may increase the risk of high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, heart attack, stroke, diabetes, and heart failure. Once OSA has been successfully treated it can restore normal breathing and improvement in sleep and ultimately your quality of life.
Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
- Unrefreshed sleep
- Restless sleep
- Morning headaches
- Frequent urination at night
- Memory impairment
- Morning dry mouth or a sore throat
Innovative Treatments
The WatchPAT is an innovative FDA cleared device for the diagnosis of OSA. It is a small wrist monitor which allows testing of a patient’s PAT (Peripheral Arterial Tone) in the comfort of their own home. Our office offers this technology to diagnose sleep apnea. We then work together with a sleep physician, your primary care physician, your cardiologist, and ENT to provide optimal patient care to treat your OSA and improve your quality of sleep.
The CBCT or Cone Beam CT is a medical imaging technique which makes a 3D representation of the tooth, bone, ligaments, and sinuses, etc. With this type of x-ray, we can see the head and neck in remarkable detail, from many different planes of view. two-dimensional x-rays have many limitations on accurate diagnosis. The CBCT allows us to see areas of concern that don’t show up on traditional x-rays. The CBCT is useful to assess impacted teeth, dental implant placement, review dental pathology, trauma, assess the TMJ joint, and evaluate the airway to treat obstructive sleep apnea. Our Green Vatech CBCT offers ultra-low dose radiation which minimizes unnecessary radiation exposure to patients.
One of the most common ways to treat sleep apnea is a continuous positive airway pressure device (CPAP). CPAP machines use pressure to keep your airways open during sleep. They usually include a small machine, a length of tube, and a mask. The mask fits over your nose and mouth and blows air gently into your airway to keep it open during sleep. This method is highly effective for treating sleep apnea.
Oral appliances that look like a mouth guard have also proven effective. The device is custom-made by a dentist, and it works by moving the tongue or lower jaw forward and upward, increasing the size of the airway. These devices are used mainly for patients who experience mild to moderate sleep apnea.
