Sleep Apnea Specialists

Sleep Apnea services offered in Verona and Westfield, NJ

If you wake up feeling tired, struggle with loud snoring, or gasp for air during sleep, you could have sleep apnea. At New Jersey Dental Specialists in Verona and Westfield, New Jersey, highly trained dentists Shalom Mintz, DDS, Louis Galiano, DMD, and their team offer treatments for sleep apnea to help you get a better night’s rest. Call the office to schedule an appointment or book one online today.

Sleep Apnea Q & A

What is sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea is a type of sleep disorder that affects your breathing during sleep. It can cause side effects that negatively affect your quality of life. Treatment with New Jersey Dental Specialists offers you a better night’s sleep and improvements in breathing.

What are the symptoms of sleep apnea?

Common sleep apnea symptoms include:

Gasping for air
Breathing that starts and stops
Loud snoring
Dry mouth
Morning headaches
Problems staying asleep
Irritability
Mood swings
Difficulty focusing at work or school
Excessive daytime sleepiness

Complications linked with sleep apnea include heart problems, high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, liver problems, and other chronic conditions. Loud snoring can negatively affect your partner’s sleep, as well as your own.

What are the risk factors for sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea is common and can happen to anyone, but some factors increase your risk of having it. Examples include:

Family history of sleep apnea
Having a thick neck
Narrowed airways
Excess body weight
Being male
Older age
Smoking
Alcohol use
Sedative use
Nasal congestion
Medical conditions

Medical problems that could increase your risk of obstructive sleep apnea include high blood pressure, heart failure, Type 2 diabetes, and Parkinson's disease.

Other risk factors include hormone disorders, past stroke, asthma, other chronic lung conditions, and polycystic ovary syndrome in women.

How does my provider diagnose sleep apnea?

Your specialist asks about your medical history, sleep habits, and symptoms to find out if you have sleep apnea and develop a treatment plan. They examine your breathing and jaw and determine if you have a sleep apnea diagnosis from your medical provider. You might also undergo a sleep study.

What are common treatments for sleep apnea?

Common treatments that help reduce symptoms of sleep apnea include:

Lifestyle changes

Things you can do at home to improve sleep quality include getting regular exercise, losing excess weight, and avoiding alcohol, smoking, certain medications, and sleeping pills.

Oral appliances

You can wear a custom-fitted oral appliance in your mouth at night when you sleep to reposition your jaw and improve airflow.

Surgery

In some cases, your dentist could recommend a surgical procedure to remove or repair tissues responsible for breathing obstruction.

To get treated for sleep apnea and get a better night’s rest, call the New Jersey Dental Specialists office or schedule an appointment online today.