Sleep Better with OSA Treatment

Do you suffer from daytime drowsiness or chronic snoring? Obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA, causes millions of Americans to lose sleep. Without regular sleep, functioning at work or school can be nearly impossible. Fortunately, your Livingston dentists, Dr. David Silverstrom and Dr. Gary Silverstrom, offer treatment for sleep apnea.
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea occurs when a patient stops breathing during sleep. In the back of the throat, soft tissues obstruct airflow, depriving the brain of oxygen. To start breathing again, the brain wakes the patient up. Some sleep apnea sufferers are woken up hundreds of times each night. Sleep apnea leaves you feeling exhauste
How Do I Know If I Have Sleep Apnea?
Patients with sleep apnea report a number of similar symptoms, including:
· Chronic snoring
· Irritability
· Inability to focus at work or school
· Waking up gasping for air or choking
· Daytime drowsiness.
If you experience one or more of these symptoms on a regular basis, talk to your Livingston dentists today.
Addressing OSA
Without treatment, sleep apnea increases the risk of serious medical complications. Patients may develop high blood pressure, which can lead to heart attack or stroke. Others may suffer from depression. Treatment begins with a diagnosis from your Livingston dentists. Dr. David or Gary Silverstrom will assess the cause and evaluate the severity of your sleep apnea symptoms. From there, they can create a personalized treatment plan.
Some patients may need to make certain lifestyle changes. For example, losing weight and avoiding alcohol and caffeine before bed can reduce sleep apnea symptoms. Also, you should maintain a regular sleep schedule, waking and going to bed at the same time each day, even on weekends.
Finally, Dr. David or Gary Silverstrom may prescribe an oral appliance. An oral splint similar to a night guard, this device moves the jaw forward to prevent the tissues in the back of the throat from blocking airflow. Patients breathe freely and eventually enjoy deep sleep free of sleep apnea symptoms.
About Dr. David Silverstrom and Dr. Gary Silverstrom: The Silverstrom Dental Group provides the latest in comprehensive dental care for patients in Livingston, NJ and surrounding communities. To schedule an appointment, call (973) 797-9345.