Sleep apnea is a common problem for millions of people, but there are solutions available. Put simply, the condition causes you to temporarily cease breathing during sleep. Although it is serious, many may be suffering from sleep apnea without being aware of it, since it occurs while we sleep. Sleep apnea requires a professional diagnosis, and medical intervention is necessary to prevent the development of further health problems, as well as treating the sleep apnea itself. Drs. Rubinstein and Ducoff are able to create special appliances which allow you to comfortably breathe without interruption at night.

What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder. The cause of sleep apnea is an obstruction of the airway. This may be due to your tongue rolling back into the throat, or tissues collapsing in the airway. Since you are asleep, you will likely be completely unaware of these causes, or of the difficulty in breathing.

Sleep apnea produces a lot of negative effects, as it puts the body through a lot of stress. Not treating sleep apnea properly may lead to serious complications, including high blood pressure, liver problems, and heart disease. For this reason, it’s important to take the possibility of sleep apnea seriously at the first sign.

Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

You may have sleep apnea if any of the following symptoms present themselves:

• You feel extremely tired throughout the day.
• You feel frequent changes in personality, or persistent irritability.
• You have a hard time sleeping.
• You snore.
• You are routinely awakened with a dry or sore throat.
• You often have headaches in the morning.

These are all symptoms of sleep apnea, but only your sleep apnea dentist will be able to make an official diagnosis. It’s important to determine whether you have sleep apnea or another condition which shares symptoms.

Treatment for Sleep Apnea

Thankfully, treatment options for sleep apnea do exist. The treatment that is best for you will depend on the severity of your condition. Mild and moderate obstructive sleep apnea will likely require an oral appliance. This appliance fits over your teeth to help keep your airway open during sleep. It prevents your tongue from rolling back and blocking your air passage, or holding the jaw in a position which prevents any airway blockage during your sleep.

The only way to know for sure what treatment option is best for you, or whether you have sleep apnea at all, is to schedule an appointment with Drs. Rubinstein and Ducoff, who will diagnose your condition. Not having your symptoms checked, whether or not you have sleep apnea, will likely result in much more serious symptoms and the development of more devastating disease down the road.

We are also serving patients from nearby location as College Hill, Fox Point, Wayland, Wayland Square, Waterman, Brown University, and RISD for sleep apnea treatment.