Posted: March 5, 2014
More than 18 million Americans suffer from a serious health condition called sleep apnea. Sleep apnea occurs when your airway becomes blocked, resulting in repeated interruptions in breathing while you sleep. The loud snoring associated with sleep apnea may cause your bed partner to experience many restless nights of sleep, but the impact on you is far worse. Sleep apnea has been linked to an increased risk of:
- Stroke
- Heart attack
- High blood pressure
Dr. Frank typically recommends oral appliance therapy or DNA expansion orthodontic therapy as his preferred sleep apnea treatment methods. Both of these options can help keep your airway open through the night, enabling you to enjoy a restful night’s sleep and eliminate the health risks associated with sleep apnea.
However, Dr. Frank is also always on the lookout for new treatments and technologies which may provide the exceptional quality care his Hoboken-area patients deserve. Currently, there is a new sleep apnea treatment in the testing phase called Inspire Upper Airway Stimulation therapy (UAS).
UAS is a pacemaker-like device that gets implanted under the skin in your upper right chest region. The device connects to an electrode that stimulates the nerve of your tongue while you sleep, preventing it from narrowing your throat and blocking your airway. UAS can be turned on and off by remote control, making it easy for you to use.
Dr. Frank will evaluate UAS as it moves through the FDA approval process. If he feels it is a safe, effective sleep apnea treatment option, he may consider whether it is worth using with his patients. This is just one of the many ways we strive to provide you with the best possible dental care.
If you are suffering from sleep apnea, please contact the Center for Dental Sleep Medicine today to schedule your initial consultation. Dr. Frank DePaola serves patients in Hoboken, Jersey City, and Hudson County, New Jersey.
