Sleep Apnea is a common, and serious medical condition. Sleep apnea affects thousands of adults and can lead to complex oral and systemic health complications. Early diagnosis and treatment may be life-saving.
What many patients do not know that your dentist may be able to treat your sleep apnea. Dr. Donna Vagnozzi-Bucci offers comprehensive sleep apnea treatment from the comfort of her Pennington, NJ dentist office. Dr. Vagnozzi-Bucci uses custom fabricated snore-guards to help patients protect themselves from the negative effects of sleep apnea.
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea occurs when the airway becomes blocked. Frequently this happens when the soft oral tissues relax and collapse in on the airway. Patients are unable to breathe properly and normal oxygen flow is cut off to the brain and other organs.
What is a Snore Guard?
A snore guard is much like a sports mouth guard. Made from a hard-soft plastic, the oral sleep appliance is molded to precisely fit your teeth. The guard is designed to realign the jaw to keep the airway open during sleep. The retainer like device also protects the teeth and gums from further damage caused by snoring and teeth grinding.
What Happens if I Do Not Treat Sleep Apnea?
Left untreated, sleep apnea has been linked to many systemic health concerns including:
- Tooth Decay
- Gum Disease
- Cardiovascular Disease
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Inflammation
- Sudden Death
How Do I Know if I Have Sleep Apnea?
The only way to know if you have sleep apnea is by seeing a sleep specialist for a sleep study. There are common symptoms of sleep apnea that could alert you to the condition and encourage you to seek help.
- Chronic fatigue
- Headaches
- Loud snoring
- Waking gasping for air
- Large neck circumference
- Overweight
- Male over 40
Schedule A Consultation
If you or a loved one shows signs of sleep apnea, be sure to schedule a consultation with Dr. Vagnozzi-Bucci as soon as possible. We work with local sleep specialists to diagnose and treat sleep apnea. Treating sleep apnea can improve your quality of life, reduce fatigue, erase daily headaches, and allow you to have more energy to do things you love. Contact our Pennington, NJ dentist office or schedule a consultation online.
