Sleep is a vital component of an individual’s life, and without adequate rest, your body cannot function properly. Sleep apnea is a prevalent sleeping problem, with over 25 million Americans suffering from it. At Bloom Dental of Arlington, we don’t just provide cosmetic dentistry for our patients in the Ballston area. We also understand the value of your health and want to offer you a solution. Our family dentistry office is located in the Arlington area and provides expert-level care to all of our patients throughout the region.
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a breathing disorder in which a person’s breathing repeatedly stops during sleep. The most common form of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea, which occurs when the airway collapses during sleep. As a result, the Oxygen level decreases. A person with sleep apnea is in danger of having a heart attack, stroke, diabetes, drug resistance, high blood pressure, Glaucoma, and depression.
Symptoms
People of all ages can experience sleep apnea. The most common sleep apnea symptoms include:
•Gasping for air during sleep
• Headaches in the morning
• Facial muscle pain or tooth sensitivity due to severe grinding
• Acid reflux
• Sweating during sleep
• Waking up multiple times during the night and having trouble going back to sleep
• Loud snoring
• Excessive daytime sleepiness
Risk Factors
These factors can increase the risk of obstructive sleep apnea.
• Being older
• Being overweight
• Being male
• Smoking
• Having an improperly aligned jaw
• Having a narrow throat or large tonsils
• Having a large or scalloped tongue
• Having a wide neck circumference
Treatments
There are several treatments available for treating obstructive sleep apnea. CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) is the first line of treatment for sleep apnea. The next line of treatment is the oral appliance device; following that, surgery would be a third alternative.
Positive Airway Pressure Therapy
Positive airway pressure therapy involves wearing a face mask while an individual sleeps. This face mask is connected to a machine via tubes to aid in preserving proper airway pressure. This therapy option is not as comfortable as oral appliance therapy, but can be quite effective.
Oral Appliance Therapy
Oral appliance therapy is beneficial for people suffering from obstructive sleep apnea who can not wear a CPAP mask. This treatment requires wearing an oral appliance when you sleep, similar to a mouthguard or retainer. These oral appliances are custom-made and support your jaw in the proper position needed to keep your airway clear of any obstructions. The device is comfortable, portable, and highly recommended by the dental professionals at Bloom Dental of Arlington.
Board-Certified
Dr. Ashkan Yousefi of Bloom Dental of Arlington is one of the few dentists to be certified for sleep apnea recognized by the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine. And not only that, but he has recently become a Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine. Dr. Yousefi is professionally qualified in dental sleep medicine and is attentive and thorough in all of his procedures, offering the highest quality dental care available.
Personalized Treatment
The main goal of Bloom Dental of Arlington is to provide quality dental care to those in need. Sleep apnea should never go untreated, so allow our office to help. If you would like to schedule an appointment with Bloom Dental of Arlington, learn more about sleep apnea oral appliance therapy, or get dental deep cleaning in Tysons Corner, VA, then contact us today!