Sleep Apnea

Smile Perfector Dental Group

Cosmetic Dentists located near Carthay, Miracle Mile, and Beverly Grove, Los Angeles, CA

If your partner complains of your frequent loud snoring, and you can’t seem to get a good night’s rest, you may have sleep apnea, a condition that causes you to stop and start breathing throughout the night. Smile Perfector Dental Group, led by David Shouhed, DDS, serving Beverly Hills, Miracle Mile, and West Hollywood residents at the office in the Carthay neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, offers sleep apnea diagnosis and treatments, including oral appliances and CPAP machines. Don’t let sleep apnea interrupt your life anymore. Instead, book an appointment at Smile Perfector Dental Group for treatment online or over the phone today.

323-634-6334

Sleep Apnea Q & A

What is sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder characterized by the repeated stopping and starting of your breathing. It is a potentially serious disorder of which there are three types, the most common being obstructive sleep apnea.

Obstructive sleep apnea happens when the muscles in the back of your throat relax. Normally, these muscles support the soft palate, uvula, tonsils, and the sides of your tongue and throat.

When they relax, the muscles no longer properly support these structures. This response causes your airway to close or narrow as you breathe, so that you can’t get enough air.

When this happens, your brain wakes you up briefly so that you can take a deep breath and reopen your airway.

Often, people with sleep apnea don’t remember waking up throughout the night. However, if you have sleep apnea, you usually wake up between five and 30 times every hour to get air. Sleep apnea makes it impossible for you to enjoy a restful sleep.

What are the symptoms of sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea causes symptoms such as:

Snoring loudly at night
Waking up exhausted or tired
Waking up gasping for air
Trouble staying asleep at night and staying awake during the day
Irritability
Dry throat in the morning
Difficulty focusing during the day

If you have sleep apnea, a partner or loved one may also notice that you stop breathing in your sleep.

How can I treat sleep apnea without surgery?

Dr. Shouhed offers a few noninvasive sleep apnea treatments, which include:

Oral appliances

Oral appliances are customized appliances that fit into your mouth and hold your lower jaw in a forward position. As you sleep, your forward-positioned jaw prevents your tongue from relaxing backward and blocking your airway.

CPAP machines

CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machines are a popular treatment for moderate to severe sleep apnea. They work by delivering pressurized air into your lungs via a mask that you wear over your nose and mouth at night.

CPAP machines deliver air with a slightly higher pressure than the air around you, ensuring that your upper airways stay open throughout the night.

CPAP machines require an adjustment period because they can be loud and the masks can be uncomfortable to wear. However, they’re extremely reliable and effective, and most people get used to them over time.

If you think you may be experiencing sleep apnea, seek relief by contacting Dr. Shouhed at Smile Perfector Dental Group online or over the phone today.