Sleep Apnea Near Briarcliff Manor, NY
Treatment Beyond Straight Teeth
Our office not only supports the health of your teeth and gums but we also support your healthy breathing. If you suffer from a breathing disorder such as obstructive sleep apnea near Briarcliff Manor, NY, Dr. Lerner can diagnose and identify structural issues in your mouth and jaw that may be contributing to your condition. We are proud to provide effective treatment options to relieve your symptoms.
What Is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs when your tongue and soft palate collapse onto the back of your throat and block the upper airway, causing airflow to stop. In other words, breathing ceases and your oxygen intake is cut off. When your oxygen level drops low enough, your brain moves out of deep sleep and you awaken. You gasp for breath and when the airflow starts again, you move back into a deep sleep. The airway muscles collapse, and again the process repeats itself – sometimes hundreds of times a night.
Those who suffer from sleep apnea can experience daytime fatigue, heart problems (heart attack, congestive heart failure, hypertension), strokes, as well as having a higher incidence of work-related and driving-related accidents.
Dr. Lerner describes how sleep apnea and snoring are linked to your oral health. Learn the causes and solutions for this life-threatening issue in the video below.
How Do You Know if You Have OSA?
An overnight sleep study called a Polysomnogram (PSG) is used to diagnose OSA. For your convenience, we can arrange an at-home sleep study. This study will then be analyzed by a medical sleep specialist to make a diagnosis. Once the PSG is complete and analyzed, we confirm the diagnosis with patient evaluation and history.
Treatment Options
Good sleep habits, weight loss, and exercise are ways you can manage symptoms on your own. If medical treatment is necessary, devices and treatments include:
- Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)
- Oral appliance therapy
- Surgery
The CPAP is a mask you wear over your nose while you sleep. It utilizes pressurized air to splint the airway open. The air is generated by a bedside machine and delivered through a tube that connects to the mask.
Oral Appliance Therapy
Oral Appliance Therapy involves wearing a custom-designed oral appliance while you sleep that keeps your airway open.
Oral appliances work best for snoring and mild to moderate sleep apnea. These small devices are comfortable to use and are similar to orthodontic retainers or sports mouth guards. Oral appliances may be used alone or in combination with other means of treating OSA including general health care, weight management, surgery, or CPAP. Oral appliances work in multiple ways:
- They reposition your lower jaw, tongue, soft palate & uvula
- They stabilize your lower jaw & tongue
- They increase the muscle tone of your tongue
Dr. Lerner specializes in oral appliance therapy and, together with your physician, can determine which appliance will best suit you. Of course, we will monitor your progress and evaluate your response to the appliance.
There are times when the enlargement of tonsils or the anatomy of the soft palate may create an obstruction to the throat. It may be necessary to remove tonsils and adenoids (especially in children), or correct other anatomical obstructions in the throat. If this is the case for you, we will refer you to an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist for evaluation.
Learn More About Sleep Apnea Near Briarcliff Manor, NY
To learn more about our treatments for sleep apnea, schedule your New Patient Exam by calling 914-245-4041 or by clicking here. Your appointment includes a comprehensive review of your health history and concerns; an evaluation of your teeth, bite, gums, and airway passage; low-radiation digital x-rays; and a discussion of your options with a personalized treatment plan. We look forward to meeting you!
As the premier holistic dental practice in Yorktown Heights, N.Y. and the Hudson Valley Region., our dentist and team at The Center For Holistic Dentistry also provide 5-star dental care to patients from White Plains, Cortlandt Manor, Katonah, Mount Kisco, Briarcliff Manor & Westchester County, N.Y., and the surrounding areas.