Screening for Sleep Apnea
If you think you could be suffering from sleep apnea, the first thing you should do is schedule a consultation with Dr. Dani. She has the experience and training to help you get the diagnosis and treatment you need. As a dentist, Dr Dani is likely to see you more often than your primary care physician. The frequency of your regular dental checkups and her extensive knowledge about the condition make Dr. Dani the right practitioner to make sure you get the appropriate care. Because sleep apnea requires coordinating care across multiple healthcare specialties, coming in as soon as you notice something is wrong is very important.
Dr. Dani will start by asking some basic questions about your lifestyle and the quality of sleep you’ve been getting. Then she’ll perform an examination of your airway and oral cavity to look for preliminary signs of sleep apnea. The next step is a sleep study, which can be administered either at home or in a sleep laboratory. Dr. Dani generally recommends a home study, which is the more cost-effective option. Patients tend to prefer doing their sleep study at home, where they are comfortable and more likely to get a normal night’s rest.
Getting a Sleep Apnea Diagnosis
During the home sleep study, you’ll be provided with a portable monitor that measures your breathing, snoring, heart rate, and other vital signs while you sleep in the comfort of your own bed. The next day, you’ll bring the monitor back to the office and a sleep specialist will analyze and interpret the results. If the study indicates the presence of sleep apnea, your primary care physician will make the official diagnosis and can write your prescription for treatment. At Kenilworth Dental Associates, Dr. Dani will coordinate your treatment with your primary care physician and our network of healthcare providers to make sure you get the best possible care.
Exploring Your Treatment Options
We know that every smile requires unique care. At Kenilworth Dental Associates, we offer oral appliance therapy as a less invasive, easy-to-use alternative to CPAP therapy. Rather than requiring a bulky, noisy machine and restrictive face mask, oral appliances for sleep apnea are custom-made to fit each smile and are about the size of an orthodontic retainer. Lightweight and comfortable, oral appliances are ideal for individuals who’ve found CPAP therapy difficult to comply and has been shown to be just as effective as effective as traditional CPAP treatment for individuals with mild to moderate sleep apnea.
After you’ve received your oral appliance, our Kenilworth dentist closely monitors the appliance as well as your smile to ensure the device properly fits and alleviates the symptoms of the condition. For this adjustment period, many patients find their quality of life vastly improved.
Treat Your Sleep Apnea Today!
Postponing sleep apnea treatment puts your overall wellbeing at serious risk of health complications. Explore your sleep apnea treatment options in Kenilworth by making an appointment to see Dr. Dani today. Together, our team will help you regain a full night’s rest.