Dental Sleep Medicine Cherry Hill

Sleep Apnea Health Risks

A variety of health risks are associated with sleep apnea. They include:

• Sudden cardiac death
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Stroke
• Heart disease
• Erectile dysfunction
• Gastric reflux
• Depression
• Insomnia
• Loss of memory

Common Sleep Apnea Symptoms

• Loud snoring every night
• Occasionally waking up with a choking or gasping sensation
• Lack of energy during the day
• Sleepiness during the day
• Morning headaches
• Irritability
• Forgetfulness
• Mood swings
• Decreased interest in sex

Sleep Apnea Treatment Options

A diagnosis of Obstructive Sleep Apnea is essential before the beginning of any treatment. It will allow doctors to rule out any other medical conditions you may have associated with your symptoms. Your medical insurance will also decide on the payment of your treatment based on the diagnosis. First, we will arrange for you to do the sleep test and get the results. The sleep test will give a diagnosis of the severity of your OSA, showing if you have sleep apnea and revealing whether it is mild, moderate, or severe.

Conservative treatment, such as losing weight if you are overweight and adjusting your sleeping position, will be recommended for you if you are diagnosed with mild OSA. If you require more than palliative treatment, we can create a sleep apnea mouthpiece. A custom-made oral appliance can prevent snoring and paused breathing.

You Need a Qualified Dentist for Dental Sleep Medicine

Oral appliance therapy and dental sleep medicine should be provided by a qualified dentist who has the correct certifications. Training in how to provide oral appliance therapy is necessary to have the ability to provide optimal care for those with snoring or sleep apnea. The American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine (ABDSM) certifies dentists who treat snoring and obstructive sleep apnea with oral appliance therapy. Dr. Lee has this special training!

Oral Appliances

50% of people who get a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) device stop using it within 12 months. Leaving your obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) untreated like this can increase your chance of stroke, heart attack, and heart failure. Untreated OSA can also take 20% off your life expectancy.

Dr. Lee offers a solution for patients who are intolerant of the CPAP. A customized, FDA-approved oral medical appliance will hold the jaw in a proper position during sleep. This can keep soft throat tissues from collapsing and blocking airflow, eliminating both snoring and OSA. Dr. Lee has had great results from the oral appliances she has prescribed, and she will be happy to talk with you about options that can help.

Nightlase® for Snoring & Sleep Apnea Treatment

The source of snoring and sleep apnea is often loose tissue found toward the back of the throat that collapses together and blocks the airway when someone goes to sleep. Nightlase is a fast, comfortable, and non-invasive laser treatment that uses concentrated light energy to tighten these tissues, creating a more open airway. This addresses the root cause of sleeping problems and delivers meaningful results after just one session. Following a full course of treatment, a patient should experience a dramatic improvement in their sleep quality and overall health.

Learn More About Nightlase® for Snoring & Sleep Apnea Treatment