Your Dentist Can Treat Sleep Apnea Too

man snoringTo continue to provide you with the best care possible, Dr. Sunita Merriman has completed continuing education in dental sleep medicine. This mean, if you suffer from sleep apnea, she can help! From snoring to pauses in breathing, sleep apnea is not a disorder we should ignore. In fact, proper treatment is needed immediately.

As with other diseases and conditions, there are different types of sleep apnea you might be suffering from. To help you better understand sleep apnea, let’s look at the different types and stages.

What are the different types of sleep apnea?

There are three different types of sleep apnea that you or a loved one might be suffering from. The three types include:

  • Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) – Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common type of sleep apnea. It occurs when the soft tissue in the back of the throat relaxes during sleep and blocks the airway. This often causes you to snore loudly, which can be very disruptive for your bed partner.
  • Central Sleep Apnea (CSA) – Central sleep apnea is not a common type of sleep apnea. It involves the central nervous system, and occurs when the brain fails to signal the muscles that control breathing. If you suffer from central sleep apnea it is likely that you seldom snore.
  • Complex Sleep Apnea – Complex sleep apnea is a combination of obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea. It is a form of sleep apnea in which central apneas persist or emerge during attempts to treat obstructive events with a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or bi-level device.

By understanding the types of sleep apnea, Dr. Sunita Merriman can provide you with the best care possible.

What are the stages of sleep apnea?

In addition to the different types of sleep apnea, there are also three stages that occur as well. These states include:

  • Mild – This is the first stage. During this stage, patients stop breathing 5-15 times per hour.
  • Moderate – The second stage involves a stoppage of breathing 16-30 times per hour.
  • Severe – The last stage is severe, which means patients’ breathing stops more than 30 times per hour.

To learn more about sleep apnea in New Jersey, please contact Dr. Sunita Merriman and we can work with you to find the right treatment option available.