For sleep apnea, there are multiple treatment methods. When most people think of sleep apnea, they think of CPAP machines. While these are effective, there may be less invasive sleep appliances available to meet your sleep apnea treatment needs.
Forest Hills Dental offers custom sleep appliances and snore guards designed to improve the symptoms of sleep apnea as soon as the first night of use. Set an appointment with Forest Hills Dental about sleep apnea treatment in Forest Hills NY, and Dr. Gregory Mark will perform an examination to see which appliance is best for you. He is able to provide screening, diagnosis, and treatment.
Do I Have a Sleeping Disorder?
Sleeping disorders can be tough to diagnose, as they happen when you are asleep. Because of this, many patients don’t even know that they have sleeping disorders. These disorders can range from something as small as snoring to something as problematic as sleep apnea.
Some of the symptoms to look out for when considering if you have obstructive sleep apnea include:
- Sleepiness throughout the day
- Flattened or broken teeth
- Fatigue
- Weight gain
- Waking up tired
- Depression
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Large neck circumference
- Headaches and migraines
When you set an appointment for an exam with Forest Hills Dental, Dr. Mark will check for symptoms of bruxism. This is the clenching and grinding of teeth (which generally occurs at night). Bruxism is often an indicator of a sleep disorder. If a patient doesn’t have enough oxygen at night, their jaw may clench. This leads to wear, flattening, and broken teeth.
If it’s suspected that you have a sleep disorder, Dr. Mark will probably recommend a sleep study to diagnose the issue and determine the best method of treatment.
Home Sleep Studies
Often, diagnosing sleep apnea or other sleep disorders requires a patient having to sleep in a lab overnight. This can be difficult for many patients for a variety of reasons. From scheduling the sleep study to trying to sleep in a lab, it can be cumbersome.
Thankfully, there is a solution available to many patients that doesn’t require sleeping in a lab. A home sleep study may be a solution. This process involves a portable device being worn at home that tracks pulse, snoring, respiratory rate, and oxygen levels.
The at-home sleep study machine often has a piece on the chest or wrist that records breathing patterns. Once you wake up, you simply stop the machine and bring in the device so the data can be reviewed by a sleep physician. The data is then interpreted to determine the type of sleeping disorder you are suffering from. From there, a treatment method can be recommended. This may be a CPAP machine or an alternative appliance.
Many times, sleep studies are covered by medical insurance. Speak with your insurance company to see if the procedure is covered.
How Can a Dentist Help?
What people often don’t realize is that obstructive sleep apnea is related to the oral anatomy of a patient. As your dentist specializes in the treatment of the mouth, it makes them the perfect doctor to help to resolve sleep apnea and other sleep disorders.
One easy solution to a sleep disorder that may be available is a special mouthpiece that is used to position your lower jaw slightly forward. This prevents the soft tissues at the back of your mouth from sealing off your airway. Dr. Mark will make an impression of your teeth, and an apnea or snore guard is made. This device will situate your lower jaw (mandible) in a way that guides your tongue forward. This makes it so that when you lay down at night, your tongue is less likely to seal against your soft palate (roof of your mouth), tonsils, and esophagus.
Sleep apnea appliances need to be fit by a sleep dentist. They can be prescribed by your physician, but medical device companies cannot provide the sleep aids (since they fall under the category of a “dental appliance”). This means a dentist’s intervention is required.
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Sleep Apnea Treatment in Forest Hills NY
There are different forms of sleep apnea treatment in Forest Hills NY. CPAP machines help to force oxygen through your airways while you sleep. This opens up collapsed soft tissues. CPAP machines fit over your nose and wrap around your head. A hose extends down into a portable pump. This pushes the oxygen into your airway.
A dental sleep appliance opens up your upper airway in a holistic and natural way. Oral sleep apnea mouthpieces are intended for obstructive sleep apnea cases. Some of the benefits these appliances have over a traditional CPAP machine include:
- No noisy equipment
- Easier cleaning and maintenance
- A more discreet appliance
- Easier to travel with
- Allows for stomach- or side-sleeping
- A custom fit
It will take a little time to get used to sleeping with an oral sleep appliance, but the results can be noticed in as little as a single night of use. While they can be used in conjunction with a CPAP machine, some patients stop using their CPAP machine once they switch to a sleep guard.
How to Adjust to Your Snore Guard
It’s important to keep in mind that getting used to an oral sleep appliance can take a little time. With that said, it may take a few adjustments to ensure the device is positioned correctly. We may schedule a few short visits in order to tweak the settings of the guard to achieve the desired results. A sleep journal can help to keep a record of how well the appliance is working.
A reprogrammer may also be suggested by Dr. Mark to wear the next morning after you take out your sleep appliance. This ensures your teeth stay in their present location, as the sleep appliance puts some pressure on them at night. It is similar to an orthodontic retainer.
Dr. Mark will work with you to ensure your sleep guard fits perfectly, providing you with excellent sleep.
Payment Options
No one should have to worry about not being able to pay for a trip to the dentist. This is especially so for something as important as sleep apnea treatment. No matter what your background or income level is, Forest Hills Dental will work with you to find the perfect payment method.
If you have insurance, we will work with your insurance provider and make sure you are getting the best rates possible. If you don’t have insurance or the co-pay is a bit too high, we can help you apply for CareCredit. This is a low-interest loan option.
Please let us know if you are in need financially and we’ll work with you to find a payment method that works for you.
Why Forest Hills Dental?
Forest Hills Dental offers outstanding oral health services at affordable rates. Dr. Gregory Mark has been in the industry for over 30 years and is an expert in sleep apnea treatment. You will be provided with the best care possible when you choose Forest Hills Dental.
Forest Hills Dental also believes in providing the best customer service possible. Dr. Mark treats multiple generations of patients, and we see these patients like family. We believe in providing top-quality service with a smile! Join our dental family!
General Services
Do you have an appointment scheduled for your next cleaning and checkup?
It’s extremely important for Dr. Mark to see you every six months for a cleaning and checkup. During these services, Dr. Mark is able to professionally clean your teeth and gums, while also checking for any oral health issues. This includes symptoms of bruxism, which itself can be a symptom of a sleep disorder.
If you haven’t gotten a cleaning and checkup in a while, that’s okay! We are able to provide you with oral healthcare services—even if you haven’t seen the dentist in a while.
X-rays may be a part of your checkup. We use safe x-ray methods that allow Dr. Mark to get a better look at your teeth, gums, and jawbone. This allows him to better diagnose oral health issues. He will also perform a visual examination.
If you have any questions about cleanings, checkups, x-rays, or any other types of services, contact Forest Hills Dental. We’d be happy to answer any questions you have and get you booked for a regular cleaning and checkup.
Reach Out to Forest Hills Dental Today!
If you are having trouble sleeping, you are waking up with pain or discomfort, or you are having any other oral health issues, reach out to Forest Hills Dental today. Dr. Mark will discuss the issues you are having and may prescribe an at-home sleep study to further diagnose the issue. From there, treatment options can be discussed.
We look forward to helping you to overcome your sleep apnea issues and get the best sleep possible!