Sleep Apnea Treatment in Leesburg, VA

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Options and Treatments for Breathing Disorder

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder suffered by many Americans that is commonly treated by dentists. There are two types of sleep apnea; obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the upper airway closes (partially or fully) while the effort to breath continues. Central sleep apnea occurs when respiratory effort ceases to occur during sleep. Patients can suffer from one or the other, or both. At Lansdowne Dental, we specialize in treating sleep apnea disorders through various methods once concluding what the ultimate cause of the sleep apnea is. Sleep apnea can be serious, so you will need to be officially diagnosed by your physician for proper treatment. Once you have been diagnosed, sleep apnea dentist Dr. Nguyen can evaluate your situation and suggest the best treatment option for your condition.

Symptoms of Sleep Apnea & Sleep Disordered Breathing

If you have heard from a partner that you snore in your sleep or stop breathing in your sleep, this is the most common symptom of sleep apnea or sleep disordered breathing. Other symptoms include waking up feeling exhausted, poor concentration, daytime sleepiness, feeling depressed, fatigue, weight gain, morning headaches, sexual dysfunction and forgetfulness. Without treatment, patients can suffer serious consequences such as high blood pressure, stroke, and heart attack. Children also show similar symptoms as stated above in addition to noisy breathing or mouth breathing, behavior problems such as ADHD, and restless sleep. It’s important to visit your physician if you notice these symptoms in yourself or a loved one in order to receive proper treatment and improve your health.

Orthodontics & Palatal Expansions for Sleep Apnea

Your dental professional will then recommend one of the many cosmetic dental procedures that can repair the issues in your smile. The list below are the more popular treatments in the world of cosmetic dentistry.

If your child is showing symptoms of sleep apnea, it may be possible for them to be treated with something as simple as orthodontic treatment. Once your physician has diagnosed your child, Dr. Nguyen can determine if the condition can be treated with orthodontic treatments such as braces, palatal expanders, an overnight mouthpiece or tongue re-training devices.

Braces

Braces or clear braces can help reposition your child’s jaw which may account for the sleep apnea. Once the orthodontic treatment is complete and the jaw is in the correct position, all symptoms of sleep apnea may subside.

Palatal Expander

A palatal expander is a device that is inserted into the roof of the mouth in order to widen the roof of the mouth to expand the airway and therefore help your child breath better. This treatment is most effective in younger children who haven’t experienced puberty yet since the bones in their mouth haven’t finished growing and have not fused together yet.

Overnight Mouthpiece

This is a custom made mouthpiece, also known as a mandibular advancement device (MAD), works by manipulating the jaw forward and down, clearing the airway. This treatment is also most effective in younger children since their bones are not done growing yet, making adaptation easier.

Tongue Re-Training Devices

This is a custom made device that forces the tongue into a proper position to allow for normal breathing. The device is worn long enough to retrain the tongue where it should rest.

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Treatment Options

One of the most common treatment options for sleep apnea and sleep disordered breathing is a simple oral appliance. Most patients believe they will have to wear a noisy and uncomfortable CPAP machine while they sleep, but this is not true. Oral appliances are custom made to fit your mouth and to push your lower jaw and tongue forward to open your airway and thus allow you to breathe correctly while you sleep. Most patients prefer oral appliances because they are comfortable to wear, easy to bring when traveling and affordable. Our Lansdowne dental office offers several types of oral appliances. If this is the right treatment for your sleep disorder, our dentist will recommend the best one for your condition.

Treatment Consultation

If you or a loved one has recently been diagnosed with sleep apnea or sleep disordered breathing, please schedule an appointment with our specialized dentists in Lansdowne for the best treatment option. It’s important to seek treatment in order to prevent more serious health problems from occurring.

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Meet Dr. Tracey Nguyen

Dr. Tracey Nguyen received her Doctor of Dental Surgery, Magna cum laude, at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical College of Virginia. Dr. Nguyen is trained in all phases of implant dentistry, and has received extensive training in cosmetic dentistry. She is also a manuscript/review editor for the Academy of General Dentistry.

We are located in Leesburg, VA but proudly serve Lansdowne, Reston, Broadlands, Ashburn, Sterling, and all neighboring communities.