How do you feel about our website?
Great   Indifferent
Skip to main content

Sleep Apnea

Chase Dental Sleepcare

Dental Sleep Medicine located in New York City, Long Island & NY Metro Area

Sleep apnea is a common condition affecting about 22 million patients in the United States. Sleep apnea can impact your overall health and cause excessive daytime sleepiness. If you experience symptoms like snoring or difficulty staying asleep, the dental sleep specialists at Chase Dental SleepCare can help you find the right treatment for your condition. Chase Dental SleepCare has several locations throughout New York: East Meadow, Commack, Williston Park, and Hicksville in Long Island; Oakland Gardens and Sunnyside in Queens; Lenox Hill and the Upper East Side in Manhattan; Midwood in Brooklyn; Staten Island; and Scarsdale and Medford, New York. To schedule your assessment, call one of the offices today or book your appointment online.

Sleep Apnea Q & A

What is sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea is a potentially dangerous condition that causes your breathing to repeatedly stop as you sleep. The two most common types of sleep apnea are obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and central sleep apnea (CSA).

Obstructive sleep apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common type of sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the tissue and muscles of the throat relax and obstruct the airways as you sleep. This obstruction prevents air from entering the lungs and causes disruptions to your sleep.

Central sleep apnea

Central sleep apnea occurs when the brain stops sending signals to control breathing as you sleep. Unlike OSA, with central sleep apnea, there is no blockage preventing air from entering the lungs. Instead, the nerves simply don't receive signals to initiate breathing. 

When a patient experiences a combination of OSA and CSA it's referred to as complex sleep apnea syndrome. Although the causes may differ, the symptoms are typically the same. 

What are the symptoms of sleep apnea?

Symptoms of sleep apnea include:

  • Snoring
  • Gasping during sleep
  • Morning headaches
  • Waking up abruptly
  • Waking up out of breath

For some, sleep apnea can become life threatening. Apnea events are accompanied by an increased heart rate and decreased oxygen. Continued events cause stress and damage to the body. 

Sleep apnea is associated with a number of serious conditions including:

  • Heart failure
  • Cardiac arrhythmia
  • High blood pressure
  • Mood disorders
  • Temporomandibular joint dysfunction
  • Stroke

Patients with sleep apnea are often sleep-deprived and at increased risk for sleep-related accidents, especially while driving or using machinery. 

Who is at risk for sleep apnea?

Although sleep apnea can affect anyone, there are certain factors that increase your risks. Risk factors for sleep apnea include:

  • Excess body weight
  • Naturally narrow airways
  • Smoking
  • Use of opioids and sedatives
  • Heart disorders
  • Stroke
  • Being male

If you or your dentist suspect you're suffering from sleep apnea, the specialists at Chase Dental can help you determine the cause of your condition and the best treatment option for effective relief. 

How is sleep apnea treated?

Treatment for sleep apnea begins with an accurate diagnosis. Your dentist performs a dental airway assessment to determine if an obstruction is the cause of your sleep apnea. You discuss your symptoms before deciding between a home sleep test or an in-lab polysomnography. 

The sleep study is used to develop a definitive diagnosis and determine the best treatment for your condition. Chase Dental SleepCare specializes in a comprehensive approach to patient care, providing a number of conventional and alternative treatment options. Treatment for your sleep apnea may include:

  • Oral appliance therapy
  • Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)
  • Epigenetics
  • Surgery

Some patients achieve relief from obstructive sleep apnea with lifestyle changes like weight loss and ceasing smoking. To find out which treatment is right for you, book your appointment by phone or online today. 

 

We see patients in the following surrounding cities: Manhattan, NYC, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Call us to book your appointment today.