Sleep Apnea![]() One of the most common and potentially serious sleep disorders is sleep apnea, which can cause a person’s breathing to stop momentarily while they are sleeping. People who suffer from untreated sleep apnea do not have restful sleep and suffer from various mental and physical health issues. The most common type of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea. At Sabeti Cosmetic Dentistry, we can help you treat sleep apnea and reduce its risk. Obstructive Sleep ApneaObstructive sleep apnea occurs when the muscles on the back of your throat relax. This causes the airway to become obstructed and cut off the supply of oxygen to the lungs. As a result, the brain becomes oxygen-deprived and sends a signal to the body to wake itself up. People who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea often make snorting and gasping noise as they abruptly wake up from their sleep. However, most don’t remember they awoke during the night at all, because the waking period may be a fraction of a second small. People who suffer from severe untreated sleep apnea may wake up hundreds of times in a single night, impairing their ability to get rest. Risk Factors Affecting Sleep ApneaSleep apnea may be caused by several risk factors, including:
Complications Related to Sleep ApneaChronic sleep apnea can result in a number of emotional, mental, and physical complications:
Treatment for Sleep ApneaSleep apnea may be treatable with some of the below approaches: Continuous Positive Airway PressureCPAP treatment involves wearing a mask over the nose that drives in the air into your nose or mouth while you are sleeping. This prevents the airways from blocking. Oral AppliancesOral appliances like mouthguards, oral splints, and tongue repositioning devices may be effective in treating mild to moderate form of sleep apnea. SurgerySome people who have enlarged tonsils or adenoids, an overbite that causes their upper jaw to jut out and narrows their airways, or a deviated nasal septum, may require different types of surgeries to correct sleep apnea. lifestyle ChangesMaking appropriate lifestyle changes like pursuing a healthy diet, losing weight, and avoiding alcohol and smoking may all reduce the risk of developing sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a serious disorder, and it is essential that you have it treated as soon as possible. To schedule an appointment, call us at (213) 314-0636 and Dr. Shohreh Sabeti will come up with an appropriate treatment plan for you. |