Sleep Related Breathing Disorders

    For Patients

    Stop Restless Nights and Get Your Life Back

    If you are not able to get a good night’s rest due to a sleep-related breathing disorder, this will undoubtedly harm your quality of life. However, it is common for patients to not even realize that they are suffering from a sleep-related breathing disorder. Many patients think that they just happen to snore a lot or suffer from unexplained fatigue. It is important to recognize the symptoms and seek the treatment that you need. The most common sleep-related breathing disorder is called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). OSA is characterized by an obstruction of the airway that occurs while sleeping which cuts off breathing and prevents air from reaching the lungs. The most likely site for this obstruction to occur is the soft palate to the base of the tongue since there are no rigid structures to help maintain the airway open. OSA has been identified as the cause of behavioral and attention problems in some children.

    Enlarged tonsils and small structural features of the maxilla/nose, mouth, and throat may contribute to childhood OSA. OSA is typically thought to be a condition that troubles adults but the truth is that it can trouble individuals of any age, including infants. In children, OSA can cause behavioral and attention-deficit problems. Research has linked enlarged tonsils and small structural features of the maxilla, nose, mouth, and throat to childhood OSA. OSA can be life-threatening and should be taken very seriously. OSA can only be diagnosed by a licensed medical professional and can be treated by a dentist with specialized training on these disorders. This disorder is diagnosed by a sleep study known as Polysomnography (PSG) or Home Sleep Test (HST). If you think you may be experiencing OSA, call our office to set up an appointment. We will be happy to coordinate any necessary testing, including sleep testing.

    SLEEP SERVICES

    We are a proud provider of dental sleep medicine which is the use of oral appliance therapy to manage medically diagnosed sleep-related breathing disorders (sleep apnea, snoring) for adults and orthopedic orthodontics for airway development or correction for children. Our team has specialized training and experience in the practice of dental sleep medicine.

    Adults

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    Sleep Services For Adults

    For adults, the healing journey begins at the diagnosis. Once a sleep-related breathing disorder has been diagnosed, the next step is to design a comprehensive treatment plan that manages the symptoms and addresses the root causes. The treatment plan can be comprised of behavior and lifestyle changes, Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT) wear Continuous Positive Airway Pressure device (CPAP), and in severe cases, surgery. Today, the FDA has approved over 100 appliances for OSA treatment, which means we will be able to find one to fit your unique case. Our team is trained and experienced in oral appliance therapy. We have highly sensitive and modern equipment to measure the airway, predict how it will improve, and create custom appliance designs. Our treatment does not stop once we identify and begin to treat the problem, we provide ongoing long-term care to maintain your high quality of life.

    Sleep Apnea Symptoms for Adults

    The most frequent signs of OSA for adults are unexplained sleepiness during the day, restless sleep, and loud snoring often followed by gasps. Additional symptoms of sleep apnea include:

    • Morning headaches
    • Insomnia
    • Trouble concentrating
    • Mood changes characterized by irritability, anxiety or depression
    • Forgetfulness
    • Increased heart rate and/or blood pressure
    • Decreased sex drive
    • Unexplained weight gain
    • Changes in urination
    • Frequent heartburn and heavy night sweats

    Increased risk factors for adults include: being of the masculine sex, overweight, mature age, have anatomic abnormalities of the upper airway, family history of sleep apnea, frequent use of alcohol or sedatives, smoking, and hypertension.

    Sleep Apnea? Take the Test (Adults)

    Children

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    Sleep Services For Children

    ORTHODONTICS / ORTHOPEDICS FOR TREATMENT OF OSA

    The therapies used to manage OSA in adults are not adequate to treat children. Popular therapies like Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) and Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT) can even be harmful to your child because they have been linked to the detention of a child’s skeletal development. The good news is that our practice treats Pediatric OSA with specialized techniques designed to be appropriate and effective for children.

    ORTHODONTICS FOR AIRWAY DEVELOPMENT

    Our treatment of Pediatric OSA focuses on increasing airway volume. We begin by evaluating the airway and then addressing any obstructions. Obstructions can be found anywhere in the airway and are in no way restricted to the mouth and nose. Pediatric OSA treatment plans are focused on airway development and often include upper and lower jaw expansion and relationship changes, myofunctional tongue and lip exercises, and lifestyle changes. Orthopedic airway development is very effective in treating pediatric OSA patients. A high percentage of children who suffer from Pediatric OSA are undiagnosed. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that every child receives a screening for Pediatric OSA.

    Sleep Apnea Symptoms for Children

    Sleep disorders in children are caused by conditions that prevent them from getting the oxygen needed while they sleep and cause temporary suffocation. Sleep apnea can cause children to display attention and behavior problems in addition to impacting the ability to learn and develop normally.

    • Snoring
    • Mouth breathing
    • Restlessness during sleep
    • Sleeping in odd positions
    • Periods of not breathing
    • Teeth grinding
    • Night terrors
    • Mood changes
    • Poor concentration
    • Bedwetting
    • Headaches
    • Frequent infections

    It is common for children with undiagnosed Pediatric OSA to be misdiagnosed with ADHD and to be prescribed unnecessary medications as a result.

    Sleep Apnea? Take the Test (Children)

    Learn more about what our patients have to say

    about the TMJ & Sleep Therapy Centre of San Fernando Valley

    Stephanie

    5.0 ★★★★★

    I first heard about this place when my jaw developed severe pain.l, and it would lock up and I could barely eat!!! In the short time of 12 weeks the pain was entirely gone... and my jaw stops locking up I’m so thankful so Dr. Ariz and this treatment everyone is so nice and friendly highly recommend!

    Johnathan

    5.0 ★★★★★

    Dr. Ariz is a great doctor who knows what hes doing. I came in with a bunch of pain with tmj and now im way better.

    Maranda

    5.0 ★★★★★

    The whole staff is great. They have been so helpful and thorough as far as fixing my TMJ disorder. You really get a lot of care so it's definitely worth the money to not be in constant pain. I've only been going a few weeks and can already feel a huge difference.

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