Oral Appliances For Sleep Apnea
Oral sleep appliances are an FDA-approved treatment for certain types of sleep disordered breathing, such as obstructive sleep apnea. They work by positioning your mouth in a way that prevents physical airway blockage at your upper airway near the back of your mouth. As a result, you’re able to breathe more freely and take in more oxygen without other types of equipment.
An oral sleep appliance can work independently or alongside of existing CPAP machines. A majority of oral appliance users use their mouthpiece as an alternative or replacement for CPAP therapy.
Am I At Risk For Sleep Apnea
Anyone can develop sleep apnea. An estimated 18 million Americans suffer from this condition. That means that 1 out of every 15 people has sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is more commonly found in men and individuals who snore, are overweight, have high blood pressure, and are over the age of 50. Some studies suggest heredity may also be a factor.
General Dentistry & Cosmetic Dentistry Located In Jersey City Nj
An estimated 22 million Americans dont get the sleep they need to be productive and energized during a typical day because of a condition called sleep apnea. At Dental Studio of Jersey City in Jersey City, New Jersey, dentists Christine Chung, DMD, and Judith E. Roman, DMD, provide treatment for sleep apnea to get you back to sleeping soundly. To find out if sleep apnea is disrupting your sleep, call Dental Studio of Jersey City for an appointment or book online today.
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How Do Dentists Treat Sleep Apnea
Dentists can help patients avoid serious health complications by being familiar with the signs of OSA. Our dentists can create custom oral appliances for you, also called mandibular advancement devices. If your dentist believes you may have OSA, he or she will refer you to a medical doctor who will perform a sleep test. If youre diagnosed with OSA, the doctor can write a prescription for an oral appliance which our dentist will fill. Your dentist will also suggest lifestyle changes, including losing weight, quitting smoking, and sleeping on your side, not your back. It is easier to lose weight once you use an oral appliance. Youll feel more energetic.
There are also different types of surgeries which doctors only suggest when no other treatment is working. Surgery is a last resort since anesthesia can be risky if the patient has OSA.
Does Insurance Cover The Cost Of Sleep Apnea Treatment
For most patients, oral appliances to treat sleep apnea are considered medically necessary by medical insurance companies. This means that your insurance provider may cover a portion or all of your sleep apnea therapy. Our Red Bank, NJ, office will work closely with your insurance company to maximize your coverage.
Keep in mind the cost of sleep apnea treatment is invaluable compared to the benefits, which include better rest, improved health, and increased energy.
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C How To Try Them Out
Ready to try out one of the new CPAP alternatives?
Here are some things that can help move the process along:
Do your homework Educate yourself about the various options so that youre ready to discuss pros and cons with a doctor.
Schedule a doctor appointment A sleep specialist will play an important role in helping you figure out which treatments are worth trying, getting the prescription, and qualifying for insurance.
Work with your sleep specialist As you try out a new treatment, they may be able make adjustments so that it works better for you.
Some of the latest sleep apnea devices may not yet be available. If youre interested in something thats still under development, talk to your doctor and the manufacturer about trying it out as a participant in a clinical trial.
The Color Of Your Skin Could Influence How Much Sleep You Get
Discrimination and stress can take a toll on sleep. Erin Schumaker Healthy Living Editor, The Huffington Post Posted: 11/12/2015 09:15 AM EST | Edited: 11/13/2015 04:33 PM EST Black Americans fare worse than white Americans on nearly every metric of health, and dishearteningly, we have another disparity to add to the list: disordered sleep. Black Americans are five times more likely to suffer from short sleep duration than white Americans, meaning they slept for six hours or fewer each night, according to a study published in the journal Sleep in June. The study analyzed data from 6,000 participants in the Multi-Ethnic Study
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Possible Oral Appliance Side Effects
If you notice that your jaw is stiff or your teeth do not meet properly first thing in the morning after removing the appliance, do not worry. The jaw should return to its normal position within 10 to 20 minutes. You can help it by chewing gum while taking a hot shower, or by doing gentle jaw exercises. Clench your teeth together, hold for a few seconds and release. Repeat this alternating pattern for about a minute to re-establish joint position and good tooth contact.
Also Serving Patients In Short Hills & Livingston
Does your spouse or roommate complain that you snore excessively?
Do you wake up each morning feeling more exhausted than you were the previous night?
If you answered affirmatively, you might have obstructive sleep apnea , a serious sleep breathing disorder that affects nearly 25 million people across the United States. OSA can become life threatening if left untreated.
At Northfield Dental Group, we are sleep apnea experts. We provide a range of snoring solutions for those suffering from sleep apnea in the West Orange, Livingston, Short Hills and the greater Northern New Jersey area. From traditional sleep apnea treatments to innovative oral appliance therapy, Dr. Stein, Dr. Widmayer, and Dr. Shapiro provide patients with a wide variety of OSA therapies covered by both private medical insurance and Medicare. Northfield Dental Group provides comfortable OSA treatment options that can often eliminate the need for invasive surgery or the use of a noisy CPAP machine with a bulky mask.
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Symptoms Of Sleep Apnea
Individuals with OSA may experience one or more of the following symptoms:
- Excessive snoring
- A dry or sore throat when they wake up
- Waking up in the middle of the night gasping for breath
- Difficulty staying asleep or recurrent insomnia
- Feeling exhausted or uncontrollably sleepy during the day
- Morning headaches
- Mouth breathing during the day
- Snoring
- Attention deficit disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
In certain cases, establishing a link between childrens ADD or ADHD and their OSA may eliminate the need for unnecessary prescription medications.
to visit our specialty website to learn more: New Jersey Sleep Apnea Solutions.
One Companys Mission To Fix Our Sleep Deprivation Crisis
The health insurance provider Aetna wants you to know the difference a good nights rest makes. 12/14/2015 11:53 am ET Carolyn Gregoire Senior Health & Science Writer, The Huffington Post Aetna CEO Mark Bertolini has made sleep health a major priority in the workplace. A whopping 40 percent of Americans are getting less than their recommended nightly sleep an issue the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describes as a public health problem. But more people and corporations are increasingly waking up to the importance of a healthy nights sleep. Leading the charge is the Hartford-based health insurance giant Aetna. Under
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Who Is A Candidate For Sleep Apnea Treatment
Patients with more mild sleep apnea symptoms can often benefit from the oral device that we make for them in the office. This device works by opening the airway, which makes it easier for you to breathe while you sleep. We will go over your health and medical history to ensure that treatment is right for you. If you have sleep apnea, it is important to consider treatment to improve your quality of life.
Sleep Apnea Treatment In The Upper East Side And West Orange
Does your snoring keep your partner awake at night? Snoring occurs due to a partially obstructed airway during sleep. While this can be harmless, it could also signal a more serious condition known as Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Sleep Apnea occurs when an airway is blocked during sleep and can be presented as a pause in breathing that can last between ten seconds to a minute.
Your dentist can offer a number of solutions to treat snoring and sleep apnea to offer you a better nights sleep. Treating sleep apnea can result in better health and a greater feeling of being rested. Patients suffering from sleep apnea can wake many times during the night, causing you to wake up feeling exhausted.
Contact our dental office today for more information about obstructive sleep apnea treatment and get yourself back to enjoying a healthy and restful nights sleep.
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What If I Think Someone I Love Has Sleep Apnea
Many patients who have sleep apnea dont realize it until the condition is brought to their attention by a partner or loved one. If you suspect your loved one may have sleep apnea due to periodic interruptions in their breathing during sleep, Drs. Romano or Bizzarro would be happy to speak with you about the at-home sleep study process and how this could benefit you.
Devices For Sleep Apnea In New Jersey
Looking for an oral appliance to treat sleep apnea? There are more than 80 options available on the market today, and Drs. Ivan & Allan Stein has intimate knowledge and experience with most of them. Most of them fall into two categories: mandibular-repositioning devices and tongue-retaining devices . Both categories of sleep apnea oral appliances are designed to keep the airway clear during sleep, allowing for unobstructed breathing, but mandibular-repositioning devices are more commonly used. Crafted from acrylic, these appliances are worn in the mouth like an orthodontic retainer or a mouth guard.
Oral appliances are not available over the counter. They should be fitted by a dentist trained in sleep apnea therapy, dental occlusion and temporomandibular joint disorder. A custom-fitted appliance is sturdy, long lasting, comfortable and wont cause jaw or bite-related complications.
Drs. Stein will help you select the device that is right for you. They will monitor the appliance therapy and adjust the appliance until snoring has been reduced or eliminated, and sleep apnea-related side effects have resolved.
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How Does Oral Appliance Therapy Treatment Compare To Other Options
CPAP therapy is a popular OSA treatment however, many patients find a sleep apnea mouthpiece more convenient and more comfortable. They find using a patient-friendly mouthpiece more acceptable than wearing a mask. The machines can also be very noisy. When individuals find using their CPAP machine uncomfortable, they dont use it as often as they should, putting a strain on their cardiovascular system.
Frequent travelers will find a mouthpiece fits in their pocket easily, while a CPAP machine with hoses and a mask is more difficult to take along. If you would like to learn more about the benefits of oral appliance therapy, please call our office.
B Latest Sleep Apnea Devices
With more options than ever before, were living in a golden age for sleep apnea treatment.
They include more comfortable air pressure-based systems, body positioners, new nerve stimulation technologies, and surgically implanted suspension lines.
As you read through the list of treatment options, here are some things to keep in mind:
Who is it recommended for?
Many of the treatments are for obstructive sleep apnea which is the type that most people have. Some will also work for central sleep apnea.
You need a treatment that works for your specific sleep apnea type. If youre not sure about this, get diagnosed.
Prescription requirement
Most of the treatments are medical devices which by law require a prescription in the US and many other countries. For this reason, youll have to work with a doctor to get properly diagnosed and a recommendation for a specific treatment.
Insurance coverage
Depending on your diagnosis, some are covered by insurance while others are covered partially or not all.
A sleep specialist can help you:
- figure out which devices to try
- get a prescription
- qualify for insurance
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Are You A Fit For Inspire Therapy
If you suffer from obstructive sleep apnea and no longer benefit from CPAP, Inspire therapy may be perfect for you.Ideal Candidates:
- Have Moderate to Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea
- Are Unable to Tolerate or Benefit from CPAP
- Are Not Significantly Overweight
- Are Over the Age of 22
To learn more about how Inspire therapy can drastically improve your sleep life, schedule a consultation today.
Rutgers School Of Dental Medicine Makes New Sleep Apnea Treatment More Accessible
Rutgers School of Dental Medicine is making a new form of sleep apnea treatment available to Medicaid patients in New Jersey who previously lacked access to the less invasive device.
Its estimated that 22 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea, which can cause high blood pressure and acid reflux disease and increase the risk of stroke. But 80 percent of cases go undiagnosed. For lower-income patients, lack of affordable health care makes it even harder to get the help they need.
Through a new arrangement with Horizon HMO, patients will have coverage for a more comfortable form of sleep apnea treatment than the CPAP , a standard treatment that requires patients to place an apparatus over their faces during sleep. Many find it uncomfortable and dont use it consistently.
Theres a problem with access. We wanted to address that, said Sowmya Ananthan, a faculty member who treats patients at Rutgers School of Dental Medicines Center for Temporomandibular Disorders and Orofacial Pain. She has also been involved in clinical research on obstructive sleep apnea. Increasing accessibility will transform sleep apnea in New Jersey. As far as I know, no one outside of Rutgers offers this type of option.
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How Does Oral Appliance Therapy Work
During your sleep study, your doctor will determine if you suffer from obstructive sleep apnea or central sleep apnea. If you are diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, oral appliance therapy may be right for you. An oral appliance pushes your lower jaw forward, keeping your airway open during the night. Although many patients at our Red Bank, NJ, office have experienced significant improvements with oral appliance therapy alone, your doctor may also recommend CPAP therapy.
Heres Why You Want To Sleep More In The Winter
Mens Fitness | December 29, 2015 Starting to miss some of your evening runs and outdoor boot camps yet? Its officially winter and the shorter days and colder nights make it a real task to get out of bed in the morning, much less actually exercise. If you live in a place that experiences the true four seasons, you know how harsh that winter cold can be and how depressing it is when daylight is gone by the time you leave work The changing weather conditions affect
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Get The Best Sleep Apnea Treatment In Nj
Unlike snoring, sleep apnea is a potentially life threatening disorder in which you either slow or completely stop breathing while you sleep. These episodes can last from a few seconds to a few minutes and may occur many times throughout the night. The risks of undiagnosed sleep apnea include heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure , decreased libido and daytime drowsiness. A sleep apnea diagnosis of mild, moderate, or severe depends on exactly how many times per hour an episode occurs. Common signs of sleep apnea are snoring, and gasping or choking sounds during sleep.
Do You Have Obstructive Sleep Apnea Contact Ridgewood Dental Associates
If you think you have obstructive sleep apnea, the team at our Ridgewood, NJ, practice can help. We have treated many individuals with sleep apnea throughout northeastern New Jersey, relieving their symptoms and improving their quality of life in the process. Taking a conservative approach to treating sleep apnea, we attempt to remedy the sleep disorder without surgery or other invasive procedures.
To speak with our dentists about treating obstructive sleep apnea, contact our practice today. You can also reach our Ridgewood, NJ, office by phone.
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Which Option Is Right For Me
CPAP machines can be quite effective at treating obstructive sleep apnea, though some people find the mask uncomfortable, especially when compared to a non-intrusive oral appliance. That said, each patient is different. We can discuss if an oral appliance or a CPAP machine is better for your needs during a consultation.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea Faqs
What is obstructive sleep apnea?
When the flow of air slows during sleep this is known as a hypopnea. When the flow of air stops completely during sleep , this is known as an apnea. When these abnormal events are due to obstructive, anatomic causes often related to the collapse or blockage of the upper airway, a patient is considered to have Obstructive Sleep Apnea, or OSA.
What are some of the anatomic causes of sleep apnea?
OSA is often due to obstruction along the airflow pathway. Common oral sites include the tongue base, soft palate, uvula, mandible , and tonsils. Nasal and nasopharyngeal sources such as the adenoids, septum, and inferior turbinates may also play a role. More inferiorly, the soft tissues of the neck may be predisposed to collapse and obstruction.
I have sleep apnea. Is it safe for me to drive?
OSA is the most common sleep-related breathing disorder, and it is well-documented to have a serious impact on a patients quality of life, work efficiency, and driving safety. One meta-analysis which evaluated the results of 18 other studies found untreated sleep apnea to be a significant contributor to motor vehicle crashes. The authors concluded that individuals with OSA are clearly at increased risk for crash.
What are some of the health issues related to sleep apnea?What is a sleep study and what does it measure?
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