What Is Sleep Apnea?

Snoring and chronic sleepiness are both indications that something could be seriously wrong with a person’s breathing during sleep, because they indicate an airway that is not completely open while sleeping. Snoring comes from air pressure within the body being forced through a narrow passageway. It’s a sign of a potentially dangerous sleep disorder called sleep apnea.

We treat obstructive sleep apnea using the SomnoDent® oral appliance. This custom-fitted mandibular repositioning device offers a highly effective and comfortable approach to managing sleep apnea.

Many patients appreciate the convenience of our in-house diagnostic option.
We offer access to an FDA-approved home sleep testing device, allowing you to complete your sleep study comfortably in your own bed rather than in a clinical setting. Once you return the device, we download and carefully analyze the data with you, providing a comprehensive review of your results and determining whether sleep apnea is present. This streamlined approach not only saves time but also helps capture a more natural night’s sleep compared to traditional sleep clinics, where unfamiliar environments can often affect the quality and accuracy of the test.

Why Is Sleep Apnea A Problem?

Sleep apnea requires careful attention and treatment because it’s a potentially life-threatening condition. If an air passage collapses during sleep, it can cause complete or partial blockage of the airway, interrupting sleep patterns. Symptoms of sleep apnea can include drowsiness during the day, weight gain, sexual dysfunction, and depression. If sleep apnea is left untreated, it can result in high blood pressure, heart failure, heart attack, and possibly stroke. Other conditions that can arise from sleep apnea include eye problems like glaucoma, complications with medications and surgery, morning headaches, mood swings, memory problems, and nocturia (the need to urinate frequently at night).

How Can Palo Alto Dental Center Help?

Don’t be alarmed if you have found sleep apnea to be a problem for you. This condition affects millions of Americans. Here at Palo Alto Dental Center, it’s our goal to be able to treat every patient troubled by this condition. Dr. Morshedi focuses on non-invasive procedures that can solve the condition before suggesting surgery.

The first step in treating sleep apnea is to contact us at (650) 494-1122 or send us an email. We’ll schedule a consultation and find a solution for you.