Posted: August 30, 2013
Sleep apnea is a condition that occurs when you experience brief interruptions in breathing while you sleep, typically caused by your airway collapsing. As a result, your brain does not receive the oxygen it needs. It is important to treat sleep apnea as soon as possible. Failure to do so can result in serious health conditions such as:
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Diabetes
- Hypertension
- Gastric reflux
Our Hoboken dentists have a sleep physician on staff who will carefully evaluate your condition. Dr. Frank will then use these recommendations to devise a customized sleep apnea treatment plan that will address your unique needs.
In some instances, a variety of lifestyle adjustments may help improve your sleep apnea. These may involve:
- Changing sleep positions so that you lie on your side instead of your back
- Losing weight
- Quitting smoking
- Limiting alcohol consumption
- Avoiding heavy meals late at night
If your sleep apnea is severe enough that these lifestyle changes do not help alleviate the condition, then Dr. Frank may recommend one of the following sleep apnea treatment options:
- Oral appliance therapy
- DNA expansion orthodontic therapy
- Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)
To learn more about the many sleep apnea treatment options available to you, please contact the Center for Dental Sleep Medicine today to schedule a consultation with our Hoboken and Jersey City dentists.
