Sleep Apnea & Snoring Treatment – Rhode Island Sleep Therapy
Better Sleep, Better Health
Do you or your loved one struggle with getting a good night’s rest? Snoring in itself is disruptive, and sleep apnea, often associated with snoring, is a disorder that can adversely affect your quality of life and lead to numerous health problems. Our Fotona LightWalker laser is a pain-free and non-invasive sleep apnea therapy and snoring cessation solution. Contact us today for a consultation to learn how just a few in-office treatments can bring you better sleep.
Why Fotona Sleep Apnea Therapy at Bio Dental?
- No need for nightly oral appliances
- Sleep CPAP machine-free
- Painless treatment yields long-lasting results
How does it work?
The Fotona treatment utilizes a laser to tighten tissues in the throat, which can prevent them from blocking your airway during sleep. The treatment is completely painless (you may experience a warming sensation), does not require any downtime, and can produce long-lasting results after just 3 – 4 sessions in our office, spaced 3 weeks apart.
If you are just beginning to explore your options for sleep therapy, we highly recommend that you are examined by a physician or a sleep specialist. Bio Dental works with your specific needs and your providers’ insights as a partner-in-health to ensure your most optimal treatment journey.
Sleep Apnea FAQs
Why Should I See a Dentist for Sleep Apnea Treatment?
The physical symptoms of sleep apnea occur in the mouth and upper airway, which are the parts of the body that dentists know about the most! This enables sleep dentists like Dr. Castillo to evaluate oral anatomy to determine how likely a person is to have sleep apnea/snoring issues. Then, with Nightlase, she can treat the physical source of the problem with extreme precision to open up the airway.
Does Everyone Who Snores Have Sleep Apnea?
No, snoring is not an automatic indicator of sleep apnea. If a person only snores occasionally and tends to feel fully rested in the morning, then they likely don’t have sleep apnea. However, if someone snores loudly every single night and exhibits other symptoms like daytime exhaustion, morning headaches, sore throats, and waking up feeling out of breath, sleep apnea is much more likely. However, it should be noted that patients who snore regularly but don’t have sleep apnea are shown in research to be at a much higher risk of developing the condition in the future.
How Long Are Apnea Events or Episodes?
A typical apnea episode in which a person stops breathing lasts for about 10 seconds or less. While this might not seem like that much, these episodes can occur dozens and up to a hundred times an hour in severe cases. On top of being very stressful for the body, this interrupts the sleep cycle and prevents someone from reaching the deeper, more restorative stages.
What Does Sleep Apnea Look Like for Women?
As with many other medical conditions, women tend to experience sleep apnea slightly differently compared to men. For women, symptoms like insomnia, morning headaches, and issues with mood regulation (“mood swings”) are more prominent. Snoring is also less likely compared to men with sleep apnea. The condition also seems to become much more prominent after menopause, though the exact reason why is yet to be determined.
Who Is Most at Risk for Sleep Apnea?
The leading risk factors for sleep apnea are obesity, age, smoking, and excessive alcohol use. Men also tend to develop sleep apnea about two to three times more often than women because they experience higher rates of these risk factors. That being said, many people who are a healthy weight, relatively young, and don’t use these substances have sleep apnea due to less common reasons, so symptoms like snoring and persistent exhaustion shouldn’t be ignored.
The Dangers of Sleep Apnea
At first, sleep apnea might seem like nothing more than an annoyance. The truth is, though, that if it remains untreated for too long, it can seriously affect your health. It may cause or worsen the following conditions:
- Type 2 diabetes
- Unwanted weight gain
- Heart attack
- High blood pressure
- Stroke
- Depression and other mood disorders
- Memory problems and dementia
Additionally, sleep apnea has the potential to increase your risk of being involved in a serious accident because it can slow down your reaction times. The exhaustion it causes could even adversely affect your relationships with your loved ones.