sleep apnea treatment martinsville nj

Do you wake up in the morning feeling tired, even after a full night’s sleep? Have you been told that you snore loudly? If so, you may be one of the many adults who suffer from sleep apnea. Don’t worry. You are in luck! If you are looking for sleep apnea treatment in Martinsville, NJ, we at Aesthetic Dental Group are here to help you get the rest you need to stay happy and healthy!

Signs That You Need Sleep Apnea Treatment

✓ Breathing through the mouth

✓ Episodes of no breathing

✓ Excessive daytime sleepiness

✓ Insomnia

✓ Loud breathing

✓ Sleep deprivation

✓ Snoring

What Is Sleep Apnea?

Apnea refers to breathing delays. The term comes from the ancient Greek language and means “calm.” This condition can occur in a variety of circumstances. For example, following pulmonary hyperventilation or a significant increase in blood pressure.

The medical term Sleep apnea refers to a condition often caused by snoring accompanied by respiratory arrest at night. A sleep-deprived patient may experience a few symptoms: recurring headaches, weakness and drowsiness, concentration, and efficiency deterioration. A medical doctor or dental clinic can diagnose the disease.

Varieties of Sleep Apnea Syndrome

Central apnea: In which the sternum and abdomen do not move. It may also cause a decline in the functioning of specific parts of the brain.

Obstructive apnea: Attempts to inhale continue, but oxygen does not enter the lungs well.

Mixed: Associated with a combination of both.

Doctors classify the disease into mild, average, and severe stages. In a mild form, respiratory stops more than 5, but no more than 10 times during an hour of sleep; in an average form, there are 11 to 20 stops; and in a severe form, there are more than 20 delays.

What Causes Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is commonly associated with snoring in adults. The sufferer snores evenly for a while, then there is silence for about 5-10 seconds, followed by a loud snore. Following an interruption in breathing, the sleeper may toss and turn restlessly.

On average, patients may have up to two hundred such stops during a night’s sleep. A person with apnea is usually unaware of his condition or believes it is normal.

On the other hand, regular breath holdings do not go unnoticed by the body because the body does not receive the oxygen it requires at this time. The brain suffers the most, but oxygen deprivation also harms heart function.

The pharyngeal musculature narrows significantly while the body lies flat, resulting in airway collapse. As a result of such phenomena, the body lacks oxygen, affecting the work of vital organs such as the heart and brain.

Health Risks of Untreated Sleep Apnea

Patients suffering from sleep apnea are at risk of having a heart attack or stroke. A lack of quality sleep reduces growth hormone production, which is responsible for converting fat to energy. A person suffering from chronic sleep deprivation is also compelled to consume food regularly, and as a result, there is a rapid increase in weight. The health risks of untreated sleep apnea include:

✓ High blood pressure

✓ Stroke

✓ Hypertension

✓ Heart disease

✓ Brain damage

✓ Diabetes

✓ Depression

✓ Obesity

Additional Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

Other sleep apnea symptoms may include:

✓ Headache upon awakening, which develops as a result of brain cell oxygen deprivation

✓ Tiredness even after a prolonged restful sleep

✓ Restless sleep, frequent nightmares

✓ Dry mouth in the morning

✓ Persistent nasal congestion, nasal speech.

✓ Irritability associated with accumulating fatigue

✓ Impairment of memory, attention, and performance

✓ Increased blood pressure

What Causes the Disease To Appear?

According to medical statistics, sleep apnea is extremely common. Severe forms of this disease affect nearly 15% of the world’s population. Up to 72 percent of the population suffers from breath holding during sleep. Causes of the disease include:

✓ Obesity leads to structural and anatomical changes in the respiratory system

✓ Snoring

✓ Chronic heart and blood vessel diseases that impair blood supply to the respiratory system

✓ Chronic respiratory organ diseases

✓ Neurological disorders that cause a decrease in the function of the brain’s respiratory center

✓ Thyroid condition

✓ Neurodegenerative conditions

✓ Addictions to alcohol and drugs

Patients with severe or moderate apnea frequently have a combination of causes, such as snoring, obesity, and cardiovascular disease.

Aesthetic Dental Group Can Treat Sleep Apnea

The treatment method for sleep apnea is usually selected based on the severity of the disease and other factors.  They are classified as basic or additional. The latter entails changing one’s way of life, such as quitting bad habits, improving one’s diet, and sleeping with special devices. The procedures work to restore breathing and eliminate snoring.

  1. Lifestyle Correction: With a mild form of the disease, it is sufficient for the patient to eliminate the primary causes of the disease’s development — losing weight, giving up frequent drinking and smoking, and, most importantly, completely switching to a healthy lifestyle.
  2. CPAP Therapy: Before going to bed, the patient puts on a mask connected to an oxygen machine. An oxygen-enriched mixture is delivered to the respiratory organs during sleep, eliminating the risk of tissue oxygen deficiency.
  3. Use of Jaw Splint: The soft plastic device worn at night is similar to an athlete’s mouthguard. It holds the patient’s tongue and lower jaw in place without obstructing the airway. It is an effective treatment for mild apnea.
  4. Surgery: In cases of nasal septum curvature, tonsil hypertrophy, underdevelopment of the lower jaw, and other pathologies that narrow the airways, surgical intervention is required. If you are severely obese, you may require bariatric stomach surgery.
  5. Sleep Positioning: Many people prefer to sleep on their backs, which contributes to their tongue sinking and impairs breathing. Sleeping on your side will make it much easier for you to breathe at night.
  6. Weight Loss: If this is causing apnea, it is worth losing 10% of your body weight to make breathing easier.

It would be best if you did not ignore obstructive sleep apnea because this problem can cause serious harm to one’s health.

Seeking Sleep Apnea Treatment

If you know that you live with sleep apnea and are unhappy with your current treatment plan, Dr. John Cross and Dr. Monika Chan will go over other sleep apnea treatment options with you and help you find a safer alternative treatment. And if you are seeking treatment for the first time, contact us here at Aesthetic Dental Group in Martinsville, NJ today at 732.356.5050.


Dr. John Cross, Dr. Monika Chan, and the team at Aesthetic Dental Group are experts in sleep apnea treatment.  If you have any questions pertaining to oral cancer screening, dental cleaning, teeth whitening, bonding and veneers, implant restorations, implant overdentures, crown and bridgework, traditional dentures, bruxism appliance therapy, tooth-colored fillings, Invisalign, or braces in the 08836 zip code area: Martinsville, Warren, Bedminster, Bridgewater, Basking Ridge, or Branchburg, NJ, or would like to schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Cross or Dr. Chan, contact Aesthetic Dental Group at: 732.356.5050