Sleep apnea is when a patient stops breathing for a moment of time while sleeping, sometimes as long as a minute. These pauses in breath occur throughout the whole night, causing discomfort for not only the patient but for loved ones.

In many cases, this is minor and your body continues to get adequate amounts of oxygen, causing little or no harm. However, it could also be a sign of “Obstructive Sleep Apnea” (OSA). In fact, 40% of snorers have been shown to have OSA. Most sleep apnea sufferers snore in between bouts of apnea, or oxygen interruption.

Common side effects of OSA include:

• heart attacks or irregular heart beats
• high blood pressure
• stroke
• more difficult to control diabetes.
• morning headaches and dry mouth
• gastroesophageal reflux disease ( GERD, or heartburn )
• depression and decreased quality of life
• impotence and/or decreased libido
• irritability and family discord
• impaired concentration and poor job performance
• and of course, chronic sleeplessness.

Our dentist office in NJ offers Sleep Apnea and Snoring Treatment, an alternative to CPAP. The goal of treatment is to keep the airway open during sleep, leading to improved sleep, better oxygenation and enhanced daytime alertness.

Many patients who suffer from sleep apnea come to our NJ dental office for help, so let us provide you with the proper information and treatment you need.