The lack of quality sleep can take a huge toll on your life. There are many disadvantages to lack of sleep. Sleep apnea patients complain of a lack of energy, poor concentration, decreased productivity, slowed metabolism, and general loss of quality of life. In addition, sleep apnea can lead to high blood pressure, heart attacks, strokes, and in extreme cases, even sudden death. It is not a condition to take lightly. Diagnosis and treatment can have a huge impact on your future, and on your life.
There are four main treatments for sleep apnea. Oral appliance therapy repositions the lower jaw and tongue to keep the airway open. The appliance is molded to the inside of your mouth and worn at night. We suggest that a follow up appointment is necessary to achieve the best results. A second treatment is simply to adjust some of your behaviors. For example, avoid alcohol before bed, lose weight, moisten the air, quit smoking, raise the head of the bed or mattress, and increase daily exercise to name a few. This is a good option for mild sleep apnea. Thirdly is the CPAP machine. CPAP stands for continuous positive airway pressure, and is a machine located next to the bed to provide a constant stream of air via a mask. This constant stream of air keeps breathing passages open, and has close to 100% efficiency when used. The last option is surgical treatment. There are several surgeries that can be preformed, but like any surgery there is risk involved.
With over two decades of training and experience in the field of dental sleep medicine, Dr. Blumenstock is one of the most active and influential practitioners of this type in New Jersey. We function in cooperation with a medical sleep team that includes sleep physicians, neurologists, pulmonologists, and ear, nose, and throat specialists. Since snoring and obstructive sleep apnea are medical problems, you’ll obtain an objective medical assessment before we explore oral appliance therapy.
Following referral from a physician, Dr. Blumenstock thoroughly examines all patients and discusses all options, advantages, limitations, and consequences. You will decide together what the best option is for you and your sleep apnea.
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