The Lehigh Valley sleep apnea patients find relief at DeMartino Dental

Phillipsburg residents suffering from sleep apnea have increased risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, dementia and insomnia. Find relief from snoring and better health with sleep apnea dentists at DeMartino Dental.

The American Sleep Apnea Association says that sleep apnea, a condition where snoring and breathing cessation interrupts nightly rest, affects approximately 22 million American adults. Beyond making people tired and disrupting the sleep of their spouses, sleep apnea patients suffer many long-term and serious health conditions.

Sleep apnea can be treated by Phillipsburg family dentist Dr. Jeffrey R. DeMartino

Sleep apnea is serious, but thankfully, expert general dentists, such as Dr. Jeffrey R. Demartino, Nelida Garcia-DeMartino and Gaeton J. DeMartino, evaluate their patients for this common condition and can treat it, resulting in better health and well-being.

What are the symptoms of sleep apnea, and who gets it?

Sleep apnea, or periodic cessation of breathing during sleep, is characterized by:

• loud snoring
• startled waking and gasping for breath
• blockage of the airway by the soft palate (Obstructive Sleep Apnea)
• lack of a signal from the brain to the respiratory system (Central Sleep Apnea)
• daytime sleepiness
• memory and concentration problems
• insomnia
• poor reasoning and judgement skills

Sleep apnea seems to affect more men than women. Individuals 60 and older are prone to it, as well as those who are obese, have a large neck and/or tonsils, smoke, or use alcohol or narcotics to excess. Sleep apnea runs in families, too.

What else happens when we don’t sleep well?

Poor sleep contributes to a host of health issues, including diabetes, low libido, depression, anxiety, stroke, cardiovascular disease, dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease, hypertension, poor liver function, metabolic syndrome and marital problems because of lack of sleep. In other words, sleep rests more than our aching muscles.

Sleep helps regulate many physiological processes. A recent study by British researchers reveals that when people lose even 2 hours of sleep regularly they increase their death risk from any health condition by 100 percent.

Don’t be surprised when your Phillipsburg dentist asks you about snoring

Doctors Jeffrey, Nelida and Gaeton DeMartino ask their patients about snoring and sleep habits during routine dental examinations. If they suspect sleep apnea, they may refer you to a sleep physician who can test your sleep patterns and diagnose sleep apnea and its specific type.

More serious sleep apnea often requires treatment with CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machines or even surgery on the soft palate to keep the airway open during sleep. The team at DeMartino Dental Group can treat  mIld to moderate OSA–Obstructive Sleep Apnea–with an custom-made oral appliance called the TAP 3.

The TAP 3 oral appliance fits over the top and bottom teeth and puts the lower jaw in a more forward position. This forward position opens the airway and lets oxygen in and out of the lungs. Snoring is virtually eliminated, allowing patients, and their spouses, a good night’s sleep and the many health benefits that come with it.

Do you snore?

Don’t worry, but don’t ignore it either. Get to DeMartino Dental Group for a check-up. One of the highly-credentialed dentists will examine your oral cavity, discuss your symptoms and formulate a plan of treatment if necessary. Contact the Phillipsburg office today for a one-on-one consultation.