Did you know that Dr. James Stewart addresses sleep apnea and chronic snoring with oral appliances and sleep apnea masks? Studies show that up to 18 million people in the United States suffer from sleep apnea disorders. This sleeping disorder disrupts your body’s sleep cycle and may severely affect your wakefulness and memory. Patients with sleep apnea are unable to progress through the natural sleep cycle because they cease breathing hundreds of times throughout the night. As their airways are obstructed by soft oral tissues, the brain responds by waking the sleeper so they can resume breathing. Sleep apnea contributes to irritability, depression, impotence, chronic headaches, high blood pressure, and many other serious ailments.
Sleep Apnea Treatment Options
After a patient has been diagnosed with sleep apnea, Dr. Stewart will recommend treatment options. Dr. Stewart believes in treating sleep apnea with minimally invasive methods. He collaborates with sleep laboratories and sleep doctors to determine the best course of action for a patient’s needs.
CPAP Mask
CPAP stands for continuous positive airway pressure. The CPAP system consists of a mask that emits a stream of airflow which prevents the soft oral tissues from blocking air passageways. CPAP systems are one of the oldest treatments for obstructive sleep apnea. Although CPAP is effective, some patients find the CPAP mask uncomfortable.
Oral Appliance Therapy
Oral appliances are quickly becoming a favored treatment option among patients. Oral appliances prevent airway obstruction by repositioning your lower jawbone and tongue. This method stops soft oral tissues from obstructing airways. Dr. Stewart will determine which oral appliance style and brand is best for you so that it comfortably fits in your mouth.
If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea or believe you might have it, contact our Livonia dentist office at (734) 425-4400. We serve patients from Farmington, Farmington Hills, Plymouth, Garden City, Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, Westland, and the surrounding Livonia communities.