Dental Care of Riverside has Treatment Options for Sleep Apnea

CALL US: (951) 683-1600 REQUEST APPOINTMENT

There are only a handful of dentists (less than 500) who are American Academy of Dental
Sleep Medicine (AADSM) Board certified to treat Sleep Apnea and Dr. Archana Sheth is one
of them! This certification allows us to provide even more comprehensive care to our patients
suffering from sleep apnea, snoring, and related disorders. Sleep apnea can significantly impact
your overall health and well-being. Our team is dedicated to helping you find the right solutions
for better sleep, and our certification ensures you’ll receive the highest standard of care.

What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a potentially life-threatening sleep disorder characterized by repeated pauses in
breathing during sleep. Breathing pauses can last anywhere from several seconds to minutes,
and happen as often as 30 times or more per hour. Ongoing disrupted breathing causes an
imbalance between the carbon dioxide and oxygen levels in the bloodstream, as not enough
carbon dioxide is exiting and not enough oxygen is entering the body.
Sensing this imbalance, the brain sends a message to the body, telling it to wake up to restart
the breathing process. People with sleep apnea will partially awake as they struggle to breathe,
and this is often accompanied by loud snoring or choking sensations. Because people with
sleep apnea don’t always completely awake during the episodes, they are often unaware they
have a sleeping disorder and it can remain undiagnosed.

Do you have Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)?

Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when air cannot flow through the nose or mouth even though
the body is still trying to breathe. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the soft tissue lying at
the back of the patient’s throat collapses into the airway. The tongue then falls towards the back
of the throat which tightens the blockage and prevents oxygen from entering the lungs.
Obstructive sleep apnea is far more prevalent and easily treatable by the dentist.

Common signs of obstructive sleep apnea:
● severe early morning headaches,
● sleepiness in the daytime, and
● insomnia.

It is very important to seek medical attention if sleep apnea is suspected. Sleep apnea has been
linked to a series of serious heart-related conditions, and should be investigated by the dentist
at the earliest opportunity. Fortunately, the dentist is equipped with the necessary technology
and expertise to treat sleep apnea in several different ways.

Sleep Apnea is more common than you think!

Sleep apnea is a “grossly under-recognized” breathing condition that increases the risk of heart
attack, stroke and other serious health consequences. It’s estimated that 85% to 90% of people
with sleep apnea don’t know that they have it.
Meanwhile, research shows that the number of people with diagnosed sleep apnea continues to
grow, affecting:
10% of men aged 30 to 49 and 17% of men aged 50 to 70.
3% of women aged 30 to 49 and 9% of women aged 50 to 70.
Some celebrities you may know have Sleep Apnea: Amy Poehler, Shaquille O'Neal, Barbara
Corcoran, Quincy Jones, William Shatner, Reggie White, and more.
Some celebrities have even died from Sleep Apnea and associated disorders: Carrie Fisher,
Bappi Lahiri, Amanda Peterson, Reggie White, Jerry Garcia, John Candy, Antonin Scalia.

How we treat Sleep Apnea in our Riverside Office

Dr. Sheth can offer many different treatment options which depend largely on the exact
diagnosis and the health of the patient. The dentist may advise the patient to halt some habits
that aggravate sleep apnea such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and tranquilizer use.

Once diagnosed, individuals with sleep apnea are often prescribed a CPAP machine, which
stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. This device delivers a steady flow of
compressed air through a tube connected to a nasal pillow, nose mask, or full-face mask. The
air pressure helps keep the airway open, allowing for normal breathing during sleep.
While CPAP is considered the "gold standard" for treating sleep apnea, it's estimated that only
around 40% of patients consistently use their CPAP masks. Many find them to be:

● Bulky and uncomfortable
● Loud and disruptive
● Difficult to sleep with
● Challenging to travel with

Dental devices that gently tease the lower jaw forward are very effective in preventing the
tongue from blocking the main air passage. These dental devices are gentle, easy to wear, and
often help patients avoid unwanted surgeries.

If you feel you may benefit from sleep apnea treatment, contact our practice today

CALL US: (951) 683-1600 REQUEST APPOINTMENT