Know the signs and symptoms of this surprisingly common sleep disorder.
Most people don’t realize they have sleep apnea. They often just brush off their symptoms as being a sign of a stressful day, poor sleep, or even allergies. However, it’s important that you can recognize possible warning signs so that you can turn to our dentist Dr. Michael Teitelbaum for treatment. Briarcliff Center for Esthetic Dentistry can treat patients living with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea in Briarcliff Manor, NY, with oral appliance therapy.
What are the symptoms of sleep apnea?
It isn’t always easy to determine whether or not you or a loved one has sleep apnea. After all, a lot of the telltale and obvious signs occur while you are sleeping. If your partner has noticed loud, chronic snoring, or that you wake up choking or gasping for air in the middle of the night, then this needs to be checked out right away by a sleep specialist.
Other warning signs of sleep apnea include:
- Extreme daytime fatigue despite getting enough sleep
- Persistent dry mouth when waking up
- Restless sleep
- Trouble concentrating throughout the day (“mental fog”)
- Moodiness or irritability
- Morning headaches
- Increased accidents or injuries
- Decreased sex drive
How can a dentist treat sleep apnea?
While we can't treat all sleep apnea cases, your Briarcliff Manor, NY, sleep dentist has successfully helped patients with mild to moderate forms of obstructive sleep apnea manage their symptoms with oral appliance therapy. Even if you have severe sleep apnea, this doesn't mean that we can't help you. In some situations, CPAP therapy just isn't effective enough on its own, and oral appliance therapy may be used in conjunction with this common sleep apnea treatment to better control symptoms.
What is oral appliance therapy?
This removable oral device, which only needs to be worn at night while you sleep, will reposition the jaws to prevent tissue in the back of the throat from collapsing. This device is custom-made, comfortable, portable, and offers a great alternative to CPAP therapy.
Don’t let sleep apnea in Briarcliff Manor, NY, cause one more night of poor sleep. Our family dentist Dr. Teitelbaum and his team can provide you with oral appliance therapy. To find out if oral appliance therapy is right for you, call Briarcliff Center for Esthetic Dentistry today in Briarcliff Manor, NY.