Sleep apnea is a disorder in which one experiences one or more pauses in breathing or shallow breaths while one sleeps.
Sleep apnea is an ongoing condition that disrupts sleep. When breathing is paused or becomes shallow, one will often move out of deep sleep and into light sleep, making sleep quality poor.
Sleep Apnea Treatment
Sleep apnea can be treated with lifestyle changes, mouthpieces, breathing devices, and surgery.
A custom-fitted mouthpiece or lifestyle changes (weight loss, smoking cessation, clearing nasal passages) may be helpful for mild sleep apnea.
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 the insertion of a piece of stiff plastic.
Why Choose NewYork-Presbyterian for Sleep Apnea
At NewYork-Presbyterian, we offer exceptional dentistry and oral medical care. As our patient, you benefit from our dentists’ years of training and experience. We also provide dental clearance for cardiac procedures, head and neck radiation, and stem cell transplants.
As a scientifically based hospital in partnership with two academic institutions, we are at the forefront of the latest treatments. Our dedication to improving dentistry and oral surgery extends to innovative research programs. We continue developing new techniques and therapies to enhance our patients’ quality of life.