Sleep Apnea Therapy – North Providence, RI
Better Sleep, Better Health
High-quality sleep is one of the pillars of overall wellness. But what if you are struggling to feel well-rested? You might have sleep apnea, a dangerous disorder that, if left untreated, could adversely affect your quality of life and possibly even lead to numerous systemic health problems. Fortunately, our holistic dental team in North Providence is here to help. We are proud to offer non-invasive sleep apnea therapy via the remarkable Fotona LightWalker laser. Continue reading below to learn how it may provide better sleep and better health.
Why Choose Bio Dental for Sleep Apnea Therapy?
- Noninvasive NightLase Treatment with the Fotona LightWalker Laser
- Enjoy Painless Treatment and Long-Lasting Results
- Effective Alternative to CPAP and Oral Appliances
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a disorder that is characterized by repeated pauses in breathing during sleep. These episodes, known as apneas, can occur dozens or even hundreds of times in a single night. They can interfere with the quality of your sleep and cause you to feel exhausted day after day.
There are three different types of sleep apnea. The most common variety is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which occurs when tissues in the throat and mouth block the free flow of air. OSA is often associated with loud, frequent snoring. Central sleep apnea occurs when the brain fails to send proper breathing signals during sleep. Mixed sleep apnea is a combination of OSA and central sleep apnea.
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.
Sleep Apnea Treatment Options
CPAP therapy, which involves the use of a machine that keeps the airway open via pressurized air, is the most popular form of sleep apnea treatment. Oral appliance therapy, which repositions the jaw to keep the airway open, is also popular.
Those options are effective, but our team prefers a different approach. We offer the remarkable NightLase treatment. It uses 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).
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.