Sleep Apnea Treatment

We Offer Sleep Apnea Treatment in Philadelphia, PA

Sleep apnea represents a severe medical condition. While many people only associate sleep apnea with snoring, it can have other effects on your health. Fortunately, you can get sleep apnea treatment in Philadelphia, PA. Our Pennsylvania Center for Dental Excellence team provides you with sleep apnea treatment options. Please find out more about your options by calling us at 215-969-4400.

Learn the Facts About Sleep Apnea

Before we discuss sleep apnea treatment, it’s a good idea to review information about this medical condition. People with sleep apnea disorder experience pauses in their breath while they sleep, sometimes for just a few seconds. In other cases, people may stop breathing for several minutes.  Patients with sleep apnea may experience more than 30 pauses in their breathing in an hour. These pauses cause issues with a patient’s oxygen-carbon dioxide balance, eventually prompting a patient to partially wake up.  Many people snore or choke when they wake up after a breathing pause. Generally, patients do not entirely wake up when they have sleep apnea, preventing them from realizing that they’re experiencing a medical condition. 

Types of Sleep Apnea

Not all patients experience the same kind of sleep apnea. Medical professionals recognize two significant types of sleep apnea:

Central Sleep Apnea

Patients with central sleep apnea stop breathing due to a neurological issue. Their brains do not properly send signals to encourage breathing. As a result, dentists cannot provide sleep apnea treatment for central sleep apnea. 

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Patients with obstructive sleep apnea cannot breathe because something prevents air from flowing through their mouth or nose. Dentists can treat sleep apnea caused by obstructions, allowing you to get a good night’s sleep again. 

Identify the Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

Identifying the symptoms of sleep apnea can help you determine if you need treatment or not. Sometimes, your partner may tell you that you’ve been snoring or making strange sounds when you sleep. You should also consider treatment plans if you experience:

• Trouble concentrating
• Fatigue during the day
• Headaches in the morning

Many patients with sleep apnea report feeling unwell without another reason. You can contact a dentist or medical professional if you experience these symptoms in Philadelphia. 

Sleep Apnea Risk Factors

Some people are more likely to develop issues with sleep apnea than others. The following factors put you at an increased risk for sleep apnea: 

• Obesity 
• Age 
• Smoking
• Alcohol consumption
• Sedative usage 

Additionally, people with larger necks are often proven more likely to develop sleep apnea. Patients with narrowed airways also have an increased risk for the disorder. You may have a constricted airway due to your:

• Tonsils
• Adenoids
• Genetics

We can review your risk factors when you contact us for sleep apnea treatment in Philadelphia, PA.

Risks for Ignoring Sleep Apnea

Some patients attempt to tough out sleep apnea and decide to avoid treatment. Unfortunately, this decision can have severe repercussions for your health. Untreated sleep apnea increases your risk of facing issues like:

• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes 

Patients with a history of sleep apnea also have a higher risk of experiencing a stroke. Therefore, we recommend seeking treatment and resolving any issues with obstructions that block your airway. 

Treatment for Your Sleep Apnea

Our Pennsylvania Center for Dental Excellence team can help you handle sleep apnea. Dr. Christine Han – who owns the Center – has extensive experience providing treatment for patients in your situation. We do not provide the surgical treatment you might need if you have central sleep apnea. However, we offer a non-invasive option designed to mitigate the effects of this disorder.  Dr. Han often recommends oral appliance therapy if you experience sleep apnea. This therapy requires you to wear a small device in your mouth while sleeping that guides your lower jaw forward, which opens your airway.  Many people find the oral appliance very comfortable and easy to wear. You may be able to avoid surgery by wearing this appliance each time you sleep. It also helps you avoid the use of a CPAP machine. CPAP machines provide another option for handling sleep apnea. However, they’re very noisy, and some people find them uncomfortable to wear. 

Discuss Your Options to Handle Sleep Apnea

With sleep apnea treatment in Philadelphia, PA, you can sleep better and feel healthier. Our Pennsylvania Center for Dental Excellence team can provide you with treatment options to handle this condition. Please find out more about your options for treatment by calling us at 215-969-4400.