Obstructive Sleep Apnea – Plymouth, MA
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
A balanced diet and regular exercise are two pillars of a healthy lifestyle — and so is sleep. Unfortunately, sleep apnea regularly robs millions of people of the rest they need to function and feel their best. The team at Aveni Dental Professionals is proud to offer sleep apnea therapy, which may be able to help you improve the quality of your nightly sleep and reduce your risk of suffering from systemic illness.
Struggling with Snoring, Fatigue, or Nighttime Breathing Problems?
Contact us to schedule your consultation and get your FREE Sleep Health Assessment Today!
Why Choose Aveni Dental Professionals for Sleep Apnea Therapy?
- 1Quick & Easy Diagnosis Simple at-home sleep test to detect any sleep apnea
- 2Personalized Treatment Plans Sleep Apnea solutions tailored to your needs.
- 3Experienced Dentists Work with our team of qualified dentists who are dedicated to improving your quality of care.
- 4Expert Sleep Partnership: Sleep Architects is a unique 360° Sleep Apnea solution backed by leaders in sleep medicine, that brings board-certified sleep doctors together with our dentists in treating sleep disorders for our patients.
You Deserve Better Sleep, Start Today
- Book Your Consultation: Schedule a sleep apnea assessment with a trusted specialist.
- Take Our Sleep Health Assessment: We’ll identify the cause of your symptoms with a simple questionnaire.
- Discuss Treatment: Explore personalized treatment options that work for YOU.
Break Free from Exhaustion. Sleep Soundly, Live Fully.
Book AppointmentWhat Is Sleep Apnea?
There are a few different types of sleep apnea, but obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common. In OSA, the soft tissues in the throat overrelax during sleep. They obstruct the airway and cause pauses in breathing, which are called apneas. Apneas usually only last for a few seconds, but they cause serious disruptions to the sleep cycle.
If sleep apnea is allowed to remain untreated for too long, it increases an individual’s risk of suffering from a number of serious conditions, including heart attack and stroke. There is also a strong correlation between OSA and type 2 diabetes.
What Causes Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea may be due to a number of causes, the most common of which is excess body weight. Too much fat around the neck area increases the risk of airway obstructions. With that being said, it is important to bear in mind that anyone, regardless of their weight, may suffer from OSA. Anatomical defects (such as abnormalities in the jaw or enlarged tonsils) can also cause obstructive sleep apnea.
Sleep Apnea Symptoms
It is possible that you have OSA if you regularly experience the following symptoms:
- Loud snoring
- Waking up with a headache or sore throat
- Waking up gasping for air
- Frequent nighttime urination
- Insomnia
- Daytime exhaustion
- Slowed reflexes
- Depression or anxiety
If you suspect you have sleep apnea, you should consult with a doctor who can refer you to a sleep testing facility. During a sleep test, a machine monitors your breathing and other vital statistics for a night. The test’s results will let you know whether you have OSA and how severe your condition is.
Treatment of Sleep Apnea
The most popular treatment for OSA is a CPAP machine, which gently forces pressurized air down a patient’s throat in order to prevent the airway from becoming obstructed. Most patients are also candidates for a dental sleep appliance, which is a mouthguard-like device that is designed by a dentist. The device repositions the jaw at night in order to allow for easier breathing. Many people who choose an oral appliance over a CPAP machine find that their treatment is comfortable and convenient.
Lifestyle changes can also help to mitigate sleep apnea symptoms or even eliminate them altogether. For example, losing excess body weight, sleeping on your side, and not drinking alcohol before bedtime may all lessen the likelihood that apneas will occur.
In severe OSA cases, surgery on the upper airway may be the best way to relieve OSA.
Have you been diagnosed with OSA? Contact Aveni Dental Professionals to find out how we may be able to help you achieve higher-quality sleep.
Sleep Apnea FAQs
Does Everyone Who Snores Have Sleep Apnea?
No, snoring does not automatically mean that you have sleep apnea. In fact, sleep apnea and snoring are two different issues, though they often occur simultaneously.
Snoring is simply the sound that results as air moves past tissues in the throat, causing them to vibrate. In some cases, those tissues are loose enough that they lead to airway obstructions, which are the main characteristic of obstructive sleep apnea.
Most of the time, snoring is only a major concern if it occurs frequently and is very loud. (However, it is also worth noting that some people with sleep apnea do not snore at all.)
Can I Diagnose Sleep Apnea on My Own?
Sleep apnea is not self-diagnosable. Rather, it can only be diagnosed by a qualified medical professional.
However, you can and should monitor the quality of your sleep. For example, you might use a smart watch or keep a sleep journal that tracks potential symptoms of sleep apnea. Recording things like when you wake up and go to bed, how you feel upon waking, and other important details can give your care team important information that might lead to a sleep apnea test.
Can My Dentist Diagnose Sleep Apnea?
Our practice is part of Sleep Architects, a network of care providers that work together to diagnose and treat sleep apnea. We can provide you with at-home sleep testing equipment, and we can coordinate with a sleep doctor who can analyze the data from the test, leading to a diagnosis.
However, since we are dentists and not sleep doctors, we cannot provide the actual diagnosis. We can offer more assistance during the treatment stage of your journey toward better sleep.
Will My Sleep Apnea Go Away If I Lose Weight?
In some cases, obstructive sleep apnea occurs because extra fatty tissue around the neck or abdomen places pressure on the airway, leading to pauses in breathing. If you are overweight or obese, shedding some extra pounds could significantly reduce your sleep apnea symptoms or cause them to go away completely.
However, there is a caveat to keep in mind. Excess weight is not the only thing that can cause sleep apnea. Even some very slim people have this condition due to anatomical abnormalities, hormonal changes, and other factors. Even if you lose weight, you should continue with your sleep apnea treatment unless directed otherwise by a qualified professional.
How Can I Travel with Sleep Apnea?
For easy and successful travel with sleep apnea, consider the following tips:
- Bring your treatment with you. Many patients find that an oral appliance is more portable and convenient than a CPAP machine.
- Leave room in your schedule for rest. This is especially important if you are traveling to a different time zone. Try to avoid becoming overly tired in order to prevent your symptoms from worsening.
- Try to keep a good sleep routine. Going to bed at a reasonable hour, not eating or consuming alcohol too close to bedtime, and other good practices are still important, even when you are on vacation.