Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a complex condition that affects your sleep quality and can lead to severe health complications. With extensive experience treating this common sleep disorder, Bayside Dental Arts: Andrey Ilyabayev, DDS, in the Bayside neighborhood of Queens, New York, offers several custom-made dental appliances to treat sleep apnea. Call the office or schedule an appointment online to find relief from sleep apnea symptoms.

What is sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea causes you to stop breathing while you sleep, sometimes hundreds of times in one night. Because sleep apnea happens while you’re asleep, you might not know you have it.

The three types of sleep apnea are:

Obstructive

Obstructive sleep apnea means the muscles in the back of your throat can’t keep your airway open. It’s the most common type that Dr. Ilyabayev treats.

Central

Central sleep apnea is a miscommunication between your brain and the muscles that control breathing.

Complex

Complex sleep apnea means you have both types, though you’ll likely experience the symptoms of one more than the other.

After a thorough evaluation that can involve coordinating care with your primary care doctor, Dr. Ilyabayev will formulate a personalized treatment to address the specific type and severity of your sleep apnea.

Is sleep apnea really that serious?

Sleep apnea can raise your risk of severe health complications by restricting your oxygen levels. Besides chronic fatigue and daytime sleepiness resulting from low-quality rest, sleep apnea increases your chances of developing:

• Type 2 diabetes
• Stroke
• Heart disease
• Poor concentration
• Memory problems
• Mood swings
• Anxiety and depression

If you think you have sleep apnea, seek medical attention to prevent these and other health problems.

I can’t stop snoring. Do I have sleep apnea?

Loud snoring is a significant symptom of sleep apnea, but it doesn’t necessarily mean you have the condition. Sleep apnea has many other symptoms, such as:

• Sore throat 
• Dry mouth in the morning
• Daytime sleepiness
• Irritability
• Waking up gasping for air
• Difficulty staying asleep
• Trouble concentrating

If you notice one or more of these symptoms, including frequent snoring, sleep apnea could be the cause. A comprehensive evaluation is essential to diagnose the condition.

Why might I have sleep apnea?

Many things increase your risk of developing sleep apnea, including:

• Excess weight or obesity
• Genetics
• Alcohol use
• Smoking
• Enlarged tonsils
• Having a naturally narrow airway
• Nasal congestion

Men are more than twice as likely to have sleep apnea than women, especially if they’re over 40 or overweight.

How can a dentist treat sleep apnea?

By creating a custom-made appliance, Dr. Ilyabayev can treat sleep apnea without a CPAP machine by creating a custom-made appliance. Dental appliances treat sleep apnea by gently pushing your jaw forward and keeping the airway open. If your tongue frequently blocks your airway, he can create a special splint that holds it in place to prevent blockages.

Call Bayside Dental Arts: Andrey Ilyabayev, DDS, today or schedule an appointment online to learn more about sleep apnea.