Sleep apnea is a common condition that affects 5-10% of people worldwide. At Aesthetic Dentistry of Noe Valley in San Francisco, California, cosmetic and general dentists Aref Natour, DDS, Nisha Krishnaiah, DDS, and the team specialize in treating obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and central sleep apnea. Call the office to request sleep apnea screening today or book online.
What is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that causes you to stop breathing multiple times during sleep. Without intervention and treatment, it may increase your risk of more serious health problems, such as high blood pressure (hypertension) and diabetes.
There’s no cure for sleep apnea, but healthy lifestyle changes and oral sleep appliances can reduce unpleasant symptoms and improve your quality of life.
What are the types of sleep apnea?
The Aesthetic Dentistry of Noe Valley team treats several types of sleep apnea, including:
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)
OSA occurs when the tissues at the back of your throat relax during sleep, preventing oxygen from entering your airways. If you have OSA, you might wake up several times each night gasping for air.
Central sleep apnea
Central sleep apnea causes you to stop breathing during sleep because of miscommunication between your brain and the muscles that control respiration. Central sleep apnea isn’t as common as OSA, but it’s just as serious.
What are the symptoms of sleep apnea?
The symptoms of sleep apnea include:
- Snoring
- Daytime sleepiness
- Waking up repeatedly in the middle of the night
- Unusual breathing patterns
- Insomnia
- Sexual dysfunction
- Night sweats
- Restless sleep
People with sleep apnea are also more likely to experience morning headaches and dry mouth.
How is sleep apnea treated?
At Aesthetic Dentistry of Noe Valley, the team uses conservative, noninvasive treatments to manage sleep apnea. Depending on your age and oral health history, they might recommend:
Custom sleep apnea appliance
If you have mild sleep apnea, your dentist prescribes a custom sleep apnea appliance. A sleep apnea appliance is a removable plastic mouthpiece that you wear during sleep. It pushes your bottom jaw forward, opening your airways.
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy
If your symptoms continue even after wearing a sleep apnea appliance, the team might recommend CPAP therapy. CPAP therapy requires you to wear a mask during sleep. The mask connects to a tube attached to a small motor. The motor pumps air into your mouth, keeping your airways open during sleep.
After treatment begins, the team schedules checkups every few months to monitor your progress.
Call Aesthetic Dentistry of Noe Valley to learn more about the treatment of sleep apnea today, or book online.