Sleep Apnea Treatment

If your partner complains about your loud snoring or you wake up in the morning feeling fatigued, you may be dealing with sleep apnea. 

Sleep apnea is a debilitating problem that can take its toll on your health and well-being. Until recently, the first-line treatment for sleep apnea was a CPAP mask. However, many patients find the mask bulky and uncomfortable, so they don't use it as prescribed.

Dr. David Paino's interest in finding alternative treatment methods became personal in 2011 when his mother, a sleep apnea sufferer, could not tolerate wearing her CPAP mask.

Knowing that there had to be a better solution, he began to learn about sleep apnea to find a simpler approach than a CPAP machine. Today, he has provided numerous patients with a less invasive way to treat sleep apnea. 

What Is Sleep Apnea?

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep-related breathing disorder that disrupts sleep. These interruptions in breathing occur because as your throat relaxes during sleep, your tongue falls back and blocks your airway.

The result is long pauses between breaths. For some, these episodes occur hundreds of times a night and last for minutes at a time, depriving the body of sufficient oxygen.

For this reason, it is quite common for people with sleep apnea to develop heart disease and high blood pressure. The way you breathe with sleep apnea places a strain on your heart and can result in strokes and a fluttering heartbeat (atrial fibrillation).

Fatigue is another serious problem, and it doesn't just affect your ability to concentrate during the day. Every year, thousands of auto accidents occur because of drowsy driving, and many are related to untreated sleep disorders.

Treating Sleep Apnea

At Vienna Family Dental and Facial Esthetics, we always look for the most updated, state-of-the-art treatments available to ensure you are receiving the highest quality of care.

The key to finding an appropriate solution is first identifying how severe your sleep apnea is. This is typically done with a study performed in a sleep lab. But we are pleased to offer our patients a simpler solution.

We provide a Watermark Ares sleep monitor that you use in the comfort of your home. The device is worn on your head while you sleep and tests your air flow, heart rate, and periods of REM sleep. The results are shared with a sleep physician who will determine the appropriate treatment approach.

In many cases, Dr. Paino can relieve your symptoms and protect your health with a simple oral appliance that you wear during sleep. The device works by repositioning your jaw into a slightly forward position, which prevents your tongue from falling back and blocking your airway.

We have several other devices to choose from; a sleep apnea sufferer himself, Dr. Paino wears a SomnoDent oral appliance. 

Don't Let Sleep Apnea Control Your Life

If you suspect you have sleep apnea or you have been diagnosed but can't tolerate wearing the CPAP mask, please call Vienna Family Dental and Facial Esthetics. We will arrange an evaluation with Dr. Paino, and he will work with you to find a solution that is most appropriate for you.