Sleep Apnea Treatment in Syosset, NY

Barkoff Dental provides sleep apnea treatment in Syosset, NY. Call 516-921-1133 to learn more and schedule an appointment.

When breathing is paused or becomes shallow, one will often move out of deep sleep and into light sleep, making the quality of sleep poor. Sleep apnea can be treated with lifestyle changes, mouthpieces, breathing devices, and/or surgery.

Many patients suffering from sleep apnea can find relief using a custom removable Oral Appliance Therapy appliance, which adjusts the position of the lower jaw and tongue to minimize airway obstruction.

For moderate to severe sleep apnea, a breathing device called CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) or surgery to widen the breathing passages by shrinking, stiffening, or removing excess tissue in the mouth and throat or resetting the lower jaw may be helpful. A CPAP machine uses a mask that fits over your mouth and/or nose and gently blows air into your throat. This air pressure helps keep your airway open while you sleep. Surgery to shrink the tissue involves a small shot into the breathing passages. Surgery to stiffen excess tissue requires a small incision in the tissue and inserting a piece of stiff plastic.

For the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), SomnoDent is worn during sleep to maintain the unobstructed state of the upper airway by increasing its dimensions and reducing collapsibility.

SomnoDent is a custom-made appliance, comprised of upper and lower dental plates with a unique, patented, fin-coupling component, which allows normal mouth opening and closing.

SomnoDent is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, making it easy to carry when traveling. The appliance is comfortable and easy to wear. Most people find that it only takes one or two nights to get used to it.

• Permits normal mouth opening
• Allows speech and drinking
• Safe and effective
• Clinically validated
• Custom-fit
• Full lip seal
• Easily adjustable

Symptoms include:

• Loud or frequent snoring.
• Silent pauses in breathing.
• Choking or gasping sounds.
• Daytime sleepiness or fatigue.
• Unrefreshing sleep.
• Insomnia.
• Morning headaches.
• Nocturia (waking during the night to go to the bathroom)

Sleep apnea is diagnosed through a sleep study. These studies can be performed either at a sleep center or in the comfort of your own home. Only a medical doctor can diagnose you with sleep apnea and recommend a course of treatment.

It can be mild, moderate, or severe, depending on the number of times in an hour that your breathing stops (apnea) or becomes very shallow (hypopnea). Apnea episodes may occur from 5 to 100 times an hour. More than five apneas per hour is abnormal. More than 30-40 per hour is considered severe sleep apnea.

In adults, the most common cause of obstructive sleep apnea is excess weight and obesity, which is associated with soft tissue of the mouth and throat. During sleep, when throat and tongue muscles are more relaxed, this soft tissue can cause the airway to become blocked.

The treatment of choice for obstructive sleep apnea is usually a continuous positive airway pressure device (CPAP). CPAP is a mask that fits over the nose and/or mouth, and gently blows air into the airway to help keep it open during sleep. This method of treatment is highly effective.  

For those patients that fall into the “mild to moderate” category an alternative to a CPAP is an oral appliance made by your dentist. The benefits of the oral appliance are that it’s much less cumbersome than a CPAP, it’s easier to travel with, and there is no loud pump associated with it. The fabrication of an oral appliance must be accompanied by a referral from your medical doctor recommending the use of one.