At Dental Sleep Medicine Hawaii, Dr. Dennis Nagata specializes in sleep apnea treatments to help his patients sleep better at night. The ADA® includes screenings for sleep-related breathing disorders as a responsibility that dentists take on during regular check-ins. Whether it is oral appliance therapy or a CPAP machine, our dentist can help diagnose the severity of your sleep apnea and give you the appropriate treatment. If you would like to schedule an appointment to discuss potential sleep apnea treatments in Honolulu, Hawaii, call our team at 808-946-6326.
Sleep apnea is a serious medical condition that prevents you from breathing properly at night. This is caused by a constricted airway, usually from collapsed tissues or the tongue rolling back, inducing pauses in breath that can last up to a full minute. The result is a lack of restful sleep that can affect your overall health and quality of life. As many as 25 million adults in the U.S. suffer from moderate to severe sleep apnea, which can result in serious health conditions like high blood pressure, heart disease, liver problems, drowsiness while driving and more!
Symptoms of Sleep Apnea Include:
How do you know if you have sleep apnea?
If you suffer from any of these symptoms, talk to your regular physician who can refer you to Dr. Dennis Nagata for a sleep study or ask for a self-administered test for you to complete at home. If you choose to do a sleep study at our practice, we will be able to closely monitor your breathing patterns, muscle movement, brain activity and snoring, all while making sure you are still comfortable. If you decide to use a take-home test, we will provide you with a package of four adjustable testing devices, instructions and one annual exam. These sleep studies are covered by insurance with a referral from a physician. Whichever you choose, Dr. Nagata will be able to determine concerns and solutions based on your results.
You can also take a test on the Epworth’s Sleepiness Scale. The scale will be able to score your symptoms and, depending on your score, determine whether you may have sleep apnea. If this is the case, we encourage you to come see Dr. Dennis Nagata for treatment. Click the link below to complete the questionnaire.
Depending on the severity of your sleep apnea, Dr. Nagata can treat you with oral appliance therapy or a CPAP machine. An oral appliance works much like a retainer and can fit comfortably in your mouth. It helps reposition your jaw so that your tongue stays in place and keeps your airway open. A CPAP machine helps by streaming pressurized oxygen through a tube so your airway stays open all night. The tube is connected to special headgear that you wear while you sleep.
If you would like to schedule your visit to Dental Sleep Medicine Hawaii, call us today. We can help you get the restful sleep you deserve! If you suffer from sleep apnea and have an intolerance of CPAP machines, you can learn more about CPAP intolerance here and talk with our team about a more specialized treatment.