Sleep Apnea Treatment In Del Mar

Get a better night's sleep

Sleep Apnea Treatment In Del Mar

Do you wake up feeling exhausted, even after a full night’s sleep? If persistent fatigue and grogginess are affecting your daily life, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) could be the cause. At Del Mar Dental Studio, our dentists in Del Mar, CA specialize in airway-focused dentistry, offering personalized treatment plans designed to improve your sleep quality and overall health. We employ a multidisciplinary approach that utilizes noninvasive, cost-effective oral appliance therapy to address dentofacial abnormalities and treat mild, moderate, and severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as well as snoring. It's important to note that sleep apnea treatment should always be done in collaboration with your medical doctor. Our team is dedicated to helping you achieve restorative, rejuvenating sleep so you can feel energized and refreshed each day.

Don't let another restless night hold you back - read on to learn more about how we can help

What is sleep apnea?

Understanding the basics

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is one of the most common and well-known sleep disorders. It occurs when the soft tissues of the throat and palate relax and obstruct the airway, preventing normal breathing. For many individuals, these interruptions last between 2 to 10 seconds, but in more severe cases, they can be even longer. This may happen hundreds or even thousands of times each night, disrupting proper oxygen flow and respiration.

In the short term, OSA can lead to poor-quality sleep, daytime fatigue, and lethargy. Over time, these repeated disruptions to breathing can significantly increase the risk of serious health conditions, such as heart attacks and strokes.

what to look for

The top warning signs of sleep apnea

Prolonged, heavy snoring combined with interruptions in breathing is one of the primary warning signs of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), especially if accompanied by choking or gasping noises. You may wake up in the middle of the night feeling as though you are choking or unable to breathe. A dry or scratchy throat upon waking is another common symptom, along with morning headaches, restless sleep, forgetfulness, mood swings, and even a decreased libido. If you experience one or more of these symptoms, it’s important to seek medical consultation with a sleep specialist to determine if you have OSA.

what causes sleep apnea

The most common contributing factors

Some contributing factors to sleep apnea include: 

• Obesity
• Small airway
• Large palette
• Large adenoids or tonsils
• Frequent nasal congestion
• Smoking tobacco
• Consuming certain medications like sleeping pills or drinking alcohol before bed

THE VIVOS METHOD

Our expertise, developed through advanced training at The Vivos Institute for Advancement in Sleep Therapeutics, allows us to provide exceptional care for our patients. By collaborating with specialists, including Board-Certified sleep physicians, we accurately diagnose obstructive sleep apnea and customize treatment plans to ensure both immediate relief and long-term solutions.

Your options

Treatment for sleep apnea

Oral Appliances
For minor-to-moderate cases of sleep apnea, an oral appliance may be a good option. Oral appliance therapy uses a device that looks similar to a mouth guard. It’s designed to shift your jaws and palate into a healthier position as you sleep, preventing the sagging of your soft tissue, and stopping OSA. 
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CPAP
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machines are another option for treating more severe cases of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). These devices use a mask that covers the nose and mouth to deliver a steady stream of pressurized air, preventing the soft tissues from collapsing and ensuring uninterrupted breathing. To determine the best treatment option for you, we recommend working with a trained, airway-focused dentist in Del Mar, CA like our doctors at Del Mar Dental Studio. 

Sleep Tests
The first step in diagnosing a sleep disorder is typically a sleep test. We offer convenient take-home tests that measure various sleep parameters, including brain activity, eye movements, muscle activity, heart rate, and breathing patterns. These tests help identify potential sleep disorders and guide us in determining the most effective treatment options. A take-home test allows you to sleep in the comfort of your own bed. If an in-office test is required, we will refer you to a trusted sleep specialist. No matter the approach, we are here to help you achieve a restful night’s sleep!

POD (Preventive Oral Device)
Looking for a solution to teeth grinding? Introducing the POD™, Preventive Oral Device - a custom-fit, advanced technology solution designed specifically for you. The POD™ helps alleviate headaches, TMJ pain, and muscle tension while improving breathing during sleep. And the best part? It also protects your teeth, crowns, veneers, and restorations from the harmful effects of teeth grinding. If you’re looking for an effective solution for TMJ pain, schedule a consultation with your Del Mar dentist today, and let us help you sleep comfortably and pain-free!

Homeoblock™ Appliance
Did you know there’s growing evidence that improper craniofacial development is a primary cause of many sleep and breathing disorders? That’s where the Homeoblock™ appliance comes in. As highlighted in the book Breath, by James Nestor, healthy breathing is essential for your overall health and wellness, contributing to a longer, happier life.

While it may resemble a retainer, the Homeoblock™ is a revolutionary, patented oral device that offers unique benefits to help you breathe easier. By applying a gentle, intermittent force to the periodontal ligament that surrounds your teeth, the Homeoblock™ stimulates bone growth and helps reposition facial bone structure. Its unique Unilateral Bite Block Technology also mimics the effect of hard foods often missing from modern diets, activating epigenetic signals. Ultimately, the Homeoblock™ improves jaw alignment, posture, and breathing—leading to a healthier, more balanced life.

Am I A Good Candidate

For SLeep Apnea Treatment

You may be a good candidate for sleep apnea treatment with an airway focused dentist if you have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the most common form of the condition. Treatment with a custom oral appliance helps prevent the soft tissues of the mouth and palate from collapsing into the airway, ensuring uninterrupted breathing during sleep.

What are long-term dangers

Of Untreated Sleep Apnea?

In the short term, sleep apnea causes some obvious symptoms like poor quality sleep, irritability, and difficulty focusing. It could even cause potential dangers like drowsiness while driving.
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But in the long term, its effects are even more significant. Because sleep apnea disrupts proper respiration during sleep, it can lead to lower oxygen levels in your blood, which impacts your overall health in numerous ways. 
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Severe, untreated sleep apnea and other forms of sleep-disordered breathing can contribute to a wide range of health issues, including an increased risk of heart attack or stroke, memory problems, high blood pressure, a weakened immune system, acid reflux, high cholesterol, and elevated blood sugar.