Sleep Apnea Treatment in Cape May Court House

Sunshine Dentistry provides sleep apnea treatment in Cape May Court House that is non-invasive and non-surgical. To learn more, send us a message, or call 609-465-5415.

Sleep apnea is a condition that results in long pauses between breaths while sleeping. If the sleep apnea is due to muscles relaxing in the mouth, restricting your airway, you’ll be diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea. Dentists are tasked with treating this most common form of sleep apnea.  If sleep apnea results from a failure of the brain to communicate proper signals to the breathing muscles, you’ll be diagnosed with the less common form of sleep apnea, known as central sleep apnea. Physicians treat this form of sleep apnea.

Obstructive sleep apnea is the result of a compromised airway. An underdeveloped jaw or dental arch is often to blame.  If the jaw or arch is not properly developed, the soft tissues in the back of the throat may relax to the point of collapse while you’re sleeping. Thus your airway becomes obstructed.

Obstructive sleep apnea is estimated to affect 1 in 4 men, and 1 in 10 women. Risk factors for developing obstructive sleep apnea include:

• Underdeveloped dental arch or jaw
• Obesity
• Inherited narrow airway
• Family history of sleep apnea
• High blood pressure
• Smoking
• Diabetes
• Asthma
• Chronic congestion 
• Age (more likely to affect older individuals)

It is important to note, that although these may increase your risk of developing obstructive sleep apnea, anyone can develop the condition.

It can be difficult to identify symptoms of sleep apnea because they may mimic other illnesses or conditions. Some of the signs that you may be pausing while breathing at night include:

• Feeling tired even after plenty of sleep
• Headaches in the morning
• Difficulty concentrating
• Loud snoring
• Jerking awake at night
• Waking up gasping, coughing, choking

Oftentimes your partner may notice signs and symptoms before you do. If they tell you that you’re snoring loudly, or seem to be holding your breath while you sleep, it’s time to seek treatment.

If left untreated, obstructive sleep apnea can lead to life-threatening conditions including:

• Hypertension
• Daytime accidents due to fatigue
• Coronary artery disease
• Heart attack
• Heart failure
• Stroke
• Arrhythmias
• Glaucoma
• Surgery complications

There is excellent news for those with obstructive sleep apnea. Non-invasive treatments including ProSomnus® and Vivos® custom oral appliances can ensure your airway stays open while you sleep.

Vivos System
The Vivos® System is a non-surgical treatment for obstructive sleep therapy available at Sunshine Dentistry. It does not require medication, implants, or a noisy breathing machine. Instead, the Vivos system involves the use of an oral device, similar in concept to a palate expander for children. Over a period of months, the oral device gradually expands the size of the roof of the mouth. In doing so, it creates a wider airway.  The Vivos device is FDA cleared to treat sleep apnea. It is the only treatment that treats the root cause of obstructive sleep apnea, which is a restricted airway.

ProSomnus
The ProSomnus® oral appliance is a custom oral device that looks similar to clear aligners such as Invisalign. It fits snugly over your teeth and gently positions your lower jaw in a forward position. This ensures that the airway in the back of your throat remains open while you’re sleeping. In addition to treating obstructive sleep apnea, the ProSomnus device also reduces snoring. 

Sunshine Dentistry specializes in sleep apnea in adults and sleep-disordered breathing in children. We treat obstructive sleep apnea with the two least invasive, yet most effective oral devices and appliances. As a provider of both Vivos and ProSomonus devices, patients can safeguard their health and well-being, by ensuring an open airway while sleeping.

Sunshine Dentistry earned the coveted distinction of being named a 2022 Best of Jersey Shore service provider in the categories of Dentist, Cosmetic Dentist, and Pediatric Dentist. Our dentists have also been included in the prestigious list of New Jersey’s Top Doctors in the field of Dentistry. 

If you’ve been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, Sunshine Dentistry can help. To book a consultation, send us a message or call 609-465-5415.