Sleep is an important biological component that is vital to healthy functioning. If you suffer from sleep apnea, then you are developing poor sleeping habits that can lead to a variety of health issues in both the short-term and long-term.
Aside from poor concentration, headaches, irritability, and chronic sleepiness that will affect your social and professional life, there are far more serious problems that have been linked with sleep apnea that can manifest themselves in the following life-threatening conditions:
- Heart arrhythmias & myocardial infarction (heart attack)
- High blood pressure
- Stroke
- Acid reflux, heartburn (GERD)
- Impotence
- Decreased libido
Also, if you have any of the following sensations while trying to sleep, you may also be exhibiting classic sleep apnea signs:
- Drooling at the corners of the mouth
- Cotton mouth (a dry, arid feeling on the tongue)
- Constant tossing and turning
- Profuse sweating even in a comfortable sleeping environment (a feeling of the throat closing or gasping for air)
So what is the next step?
If you are experiencing any of the signs above, or feel that you may suffer from sleep apnea, it is important to seek medical attention in order to prevent any serious, long-term side effects that could manifest later in life.
You are at a higher risk for sleep apnea if you are overweight, have a history of high blood pressure, or have any known abnormalities in the nose or throat areas.
At Babylon Dental Care, we provide a variety of sleep apnea treatments to suit your individual needs. The process will include a sleep study that can be performed in the convenience of your own home (a major convenience for our patients) as opposed to spending the night in a sleep research facility.
What if I have sleep apnea?
If you complete a sleep study and we diagnose you with sleep apnea, then there are several treatment options available.
CPAP
The most common treatment for sleep apnea is the CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine. For years, this has been the standard by which all other sleep apnea treatments have been measured against. While the CPAP machine does an excellent job of providing continuous airway pressure to assist in combating sleep apnea episodes, it also has some drawbacks.
The CPAP machine’s greatest asset may also be its greatest liability. This is due to the fact that although the CPAP machine regulates airway pressure to avoid apnea episodes, it can also be uncomfortable, unsightly, and some users reported having trouble falling and staying asleep while using a CPAP machine.
Surgery
Surgery to correct sleep apnea is typically a last resort for our patients. The reason being is that recovery can take 2 or more weeks, and the long term success rate of sleep apnea surgeries is questionable (due to the regeneration of tissues that are removed).
The Moses® Appliance: Just the Right Treatment
Fortunately for sleep apnea sufferers, CPAP treatment and surgery are not the only two alternatives available. The Moses® appliance was developed by Allen J. Moses (DDS, DABCP, DABDSM) and is regarded by many dental health professionals as the most effective mouthpiece on the market today to treat snoring and sleep apnea.
Dr. Moses is an assistant professor at Rush University Medical School where he concentrates on the study of sleep disorders, and is also a member of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine. Due to Dr. Moses’s experience in treating patients with sleep disorders, he developed The Moses to help sleep apnea suffers with their unique needs.
The Moses device was designed to incorporate a specific feature known as tongue management. This essentially activates reflexes in the tongue, and also reduces the grinding and clenching motions that cause chronic headaches and facial pain.
Thanks to The Moses appliance, sleep apnea sufferers now have an alternative that allows them to go about their daily lives, get a restful night’s sleep, and reduce the stronghold sleep apnea has on their life.
In addition to being an effective solution, it is also a practical one. Wearers of The Moses appliance can talk, close their lips, and even drink while they are wearing it. Also unlike bulky CPAP machines, The Moses device is easily portable, and is not embarrassing to use at night in front of your spouse or partner.
If you live in the Babylon or Patchogue, NY areas and believe you may be suffering from sleep apnea, we encourage you to contact us today to see if The Moses device may be the simple, practical, pain-free solution you have been seeking.
Visit our Sleep Apnea Websitefor more information, and take our self-evaluation to see if you may be suffering from Sleep Apnea symptoms.
