Sleep Apnea Dentist

There are three. Obstructive sleep apnea, the most common, happens when the airway is physically blocked. Central sleep apnea happens when the brain doesn’t send the right signals to breathe. Mixed (complex) sleep apnea combines the two.

During sleep the muscles of the throat relax. Extra soft tissue in the throat, a large tongue, enlarged tonsils or uvula, a narrow airway or excess weight can let the airway collapse and block breathing.

Repeated breathing pauses strain the body. Untreated sleep apnea is linked with high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, memory and focus problems, and the daytime sleepiness that makes driving and work harder.

Both are common alongside it. Waking with a headache, and grinding your teeth at night, are often seen with snoring and disrupted breathing during sleep. Grinding wears teeth down, and a custom nightguard protects them.

Loud or frequent snoring, waking up gasping for air, a very sore or dry throat in the morning, feeling tired all day, and getting up many times at night to urinate. Carrying extra weight is a common risk factor too.

You can’t hear yourself snore or notice when you stop breathing. A spouse or loved one who hears it is the best witness you have, so share what they have noticed at your visit.

Often, yes. Worn teeth from night-time grinding, a scalloped tongue, a large tongue or tonsils, a narrow or high-arched palate and a set-back lower jaw can all point to a crowded airway and are worth a closer look.

A sleep study records your breathing, oxygen level, heart rate and movement while you sleep, either overnight at a sleep center or with a simple test at home. A medical sleep specialist reads it and makes the diagnosis.

No. NightLase has no incisions or sutures and needs no anesthesia, so you go straight back to your day.

Most patients need about three sessions. Many notice less snoring after the first one, and follow-up visits check your progress.

No. NightLase is a treatment for snoring. Sleep apnea is diagnosed and managed with your physician, and Dr. Godko reviews whether NightLase fits alongside that care.

Yes. Maintenance sessions may be recommended over time to keep your snoring down.

Yes. Schedule an appointment at either office and tell the team about your snoring or sleep concerns, so your risk factors can be reviewed at your visit.

A conversation about your sleep, your snoring and how you feel during the day, and an exam of your mouth and airway. If your risk is high you are referred for a sleep study; if snoring is the concern, Dr. Godko explains whether NightLase fits.

Sleeping on your side, keeping a healthy weight, avoiding alcohol close to bedtime and not smoking all help many people snore less. They don’t replace a sleep study when the warning signs are there.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine explains obstructive sleep apnea, and your consultation covers your own risk factors.