Which should you choose, a sleep apnea dentist? Or a regular doctor? Do you think you may have sleep apnea? What should your next step be? Which professional should you visit to help evaluate the situation?
Depending on the severity of your condition, there are different treatments that may be available to you. In the most severe sleep apnea cases, your sleep doctor may recommend that you use a CPAP machine.
Not everyone can tolerate a CPAP machine, the next best option is an oral appliance customized for you by a sleep apnea dentist. This option is more tolerable for those of us who don’t like having a mask cover your entire face. Oral appliances are well respected as an effective treatment for sleep apnea.
Why Visit a Doctor?
When first confronted with a snoring or sleep apnea issue, a patient usually consults their regular doctor. Their doctor may recommend a home sleep study. The sleep study test that will determine if a person has sleep apnea and the severity of the condition. Once your doctor receives your study results, they can recommend the best treatment which may include a CPAP machine or a visit to a sleep apnea dentist.
As part of your overall treatment with your sleep dentist, he will consult with your regular doctor for the best comprehensive treatment for your condition.
Why Visit a Sleep Apnea Dentist?
Sleep apnea dentists, or sleep dentists, are experts who specialize in oral appliance therapy and techniques to improve the sleep quality of their patients. Their area of specialization helps them cater to patients who complain of disordered breathing and require oral appliance therapy.
If your quality of sleep is not up to par and has been a persistent problem for a very long time, it’s important to visit a sleep dentist, especially if you can’t make sense of why the following occurs:
- Daytime sleepiness despite long sleep duration
- Jaw pain when you chew or for no explained reason
- Cracked/worn teeth due to grinding
- Disruptive snoring
- Pauses in breathing during sleep
The Takeaway
It’s important to see your doctor as soon as an issue is discovered. Your sleep doctor can help you to understand the difference between sleep which is disrupted by airway blockages and muscles collapsing and sleep which is affected by sudden changes.If you, snore excessively and are using oral appliance therapy, the answer is clear: Visit a sleep apnea dentist!
We offer treatment for sleep apnea, TMJ, and Botox. We are located in Staten Island, Williston Park, East Meadow, New York and surrounding cities. Call us to book your appointment today.