Sleep Apnea

If you have sleep apnea, you should know only your doctor who can help improve your condition and enhance your well-being. Your dentist can also help you beat sleep apnea or at least mitigate its impact on your health. Give us a call today at (310) 835-3144 to find out more about how we can help you overcome sleep apnea and enjoy a more restful sleep. We will perform an initial screening for OSA to determine if you are considered to be a high-risk candidate for sleep apnea.

A diagnosis of sleep apnea indicates the muscles by the tongue and also the throat relax, thwarting the seamless movement of airflow to the lungs while sleeping. The dentist will help by providing dental appliances, mouth guards or a CPAP machine. CPAP is an acronym that stands for continuous positive airway pressure. CPAP machines send air with continuous pressure into the throat at night as you sleep to ensure your airways remain open. This is accomplished with the use of a mask that fits atop the nose or over the nose and/or mouth. The mask is held in position with straps as you sleep. The motor blows the air. The machine’s cannula is a large tube that connects the mask and motor. Aside from CPAP machines, mouth devices, also known as oral appliances, are also helpful in the battle against obstructive sleep apnea. However, the dentist must fit you for an oral appliance specific to your unique mouth for it to work.