Sleep Apnea Treatment in Atlanta

Sleep Apnea Treatment

Comfortable, effective treatment for Sleep Apnea & Snoring

What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which breathing stops and starts while a person is sleeping. Sleep apnea can cause serious health problems. Due to a lack of sleep and reduced oxygen during the night, symptoms like fatigue, headaches, memory loss, anxiety, irritability and even depression may occur.

More serious conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and weight gain may develop as a result of sleep apnea. Sleep apnea treatment is one of the many services we offer here at the Atlanta Dental Group. Dr. Padolsky is dedicated to your good health and overall well-being and loves helping his patients find the relief they need. He can help you by providing comfortable and effective treatment for sleep apnea.

Dr. Padolsky is trained and experienced in sleep apnea treatment using oral appliance therapy and can help you to establish if you have sleep apnea, or assess if oral appliance therapy treatment will help your previously diagnosed sleep apnea condition.

Sleep Apnea & Snoring Treatment

In this diagram you can see how the airway collapses at the back of the throat, impeding the flow of air into the lungs. This is “Obstructive Sleep Apnea.” Image credit: Wikemedia Commons

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the muscles that support the soft tissues in your throat, i.e., your tongue and soft palate, temporarily relax. As a result, your airway is narrowed or closed and your breathing momentarily stops. This can occur up to hundreds of times in one night, and each pause in breathing can last for 10 or more seconds.

Who is likely to suffer from Sleep Apnea?

Typically, middle-aged and older people who are overweight are more likely to be sleep apnea sufferers. However, men and women of any age or body type can suffer from this condition. Sleep apnea may progressively worsen with age and weight gain.

Diagnostic testing for Sleep Apnea

After meeting and talking with Dr. Padolsky about your possible sleep apnea condition, he will arrange for you to get a sleep study done. If you are diagnosed with sleep apnea, Dr. Padolsky has an effective treatment option to help you find relief.

Already diagnosed with Sleep Apnea?

Visit Dr. Padolsky for a consultation to discuss if Oral Appliance Therapy could be a viable alternative for you.

Online Sleep Apnea tests

Take these simple tests to see if you are at risk from sleep apnea. If the results show you may have sleep apnea, you should schedule to see Dr. Padolsky right away.

Sleep Apnea Symptoms

Sleep Apnea & Snoring Treatment in AtlantaTypical sleep apnea symptoms include:

  • Snoring
  • Excessive daytime sleepiness
  • Impaired concentration
  • Morning headaches
  • Irritability
  • Memory loss
  • Decreased sex drive

Comfortable and effective alternative to a CPAP machine

Sleep Apnea & Snoring Treatment

The CPAP mask can be effective for sleep apnea but many find it uncomfortable and inconvenient to wear.

The use of a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine has been a standard treatment for people who suffer from sleep apnea. This machine streams air into the nose or mouth through a mask worn over the nose or both nose and mouth. While this machine is effective, only 50% of patients are able to tolerate the CPAP machine because it is so uncomfortable and inconvenient to use.

Oral Appliance Therapy for a comfortable, effective way to treat Sleep Apnea 

Sleep Apnea & Snoring Treatment in AtlantaIf you’ve been diagnosed with sleep apnea, Dr. Padolsky will customize a comfortably fitting oral appliance to help keep your airway open during sleep. This appliance positions your lower jaw slightly forward and down. As a result, your airway stays open; you’ll stop snoring and you’ll get an uninterrupted good night’s rest.

How effective is Oral Appliance Therapy?

Studies of Oral Appliance Therapy have shown a 77% to 95% success rate. Oral Appliance Therapy is very effective in patients who suffer from moderate sleep apnea and is moderately effective in patients who suffer from severe sleep apnea.

Stop your Snoring!

Snoring can not only disrupt your sleep but it can also keep your significant other awake, which can put stress on your relationship. Snoring is the sound of a blocked airway during sleep as a result of the soft tissues in the back of the throat falling against the back of the throat, which causes these soft tissues to vibrate.

Usually, snoring is not a health-threatening condition but about 5% -10% of people who snore have sleep apnea. Take one of our online tests to see if your snoring could be a symptom of sleep apnea.

Snoring can be easily treated using an oral appliance to keep the airways open. Dr. Padolsky custom fits you with your oral appliance, you pop it in at night, and no more snoring!

To make an appointment, call 404-476-5504 or click here to request an appointment online.