Sleep Apnea in Chicago, IL | Strobel Dentistry

The Details Behind Sleep Apnea

What is Sleep Apnea?

While we sleep, all of our muscles relax, including those controlling our airways. For some people, this relaxation of the muscles, as well as skeletal pre-disposition, can cause their airways to collapse and restrict airflow by 80% or more. This condition is known as Sleep Apnea. In some individuals, these interruptions to breathing can occur as frequently as 30 or more times within an hour, sometimes lasting ten seconds or longer.

When your breathing is obstructed, your tissues are not able to receive adequate oxygen. Your brain tells your body to breathe, which can cause you to wake up gasping for air. As this cycle repeats throughout the night, you may often wake feeling as though you have had little or no sleep. Estimates place the population of adults with sleep apnea at 17 – 20%. Unfortunately, less than 10% of those with sleep apnea have been diagnosed. More than 18 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea. Studies have shown that nearly 50% of those with sleep apnea also have high blood pressure. Additionally, sleep apnea may increase your risk of having a stroke, heart attack, anxiety, and depression.

Receive the Treatment You Need

Your Sleep Apnea Consultation

Dr. Isabella is experienced in evaluating and treating sleep apnea conditions. If you regularly experience symptoms of sleep apnea, please contact our office.

We can conduct a comprehensive examination and provide solutions to help you sleep through the night. A thorough screening includes an at-home sleep test, a CT scan, and an assessment of the mouth, head, and neck. Don’t spend another restless night struggling with sleep apnea. Relief is available. Contact our office to schedule a consultation today.

A Comfortable Alternative to Lab Tests

At-Home Sleep Test

Most lab-based sleep tests are uncomfortable, invasive, and expensive. At our practice in Chicago Sleep Apnea diagnosis is made more accessible. We can provide you with a Home Sleep Test from the comfort of your home. We use the Alice Night One Sleep Test by Phillips, whose setup will effortlessly guide you through the placement of 4 sensors that will then record your sleep. These four sensors are:

Positional tracker will detect your body position through the night.
An effort belt wrapping around your chest. This belt tracks how your lungs are working.
A nasal cannula is placed under your nose. This thin tube tracks any snoring and measures how much air you’re taking in.

A pulse oximeter is attached to your finger during the test, crucial for diagnosing Sleep Apnea. This reads your pulse, blood flow, and blood oxygen levels. The device will also confirm at the end of the night if you’ve gathered enough good data for our Sleep Physicians to analyze. Once you’ve completed and returned the study, Dr. Isabella Terrassa will review the results prior to your consultation at which she will then discuss findings and treatment options.

MADs vs. CPAP

What are the benefits of Sleep Apnea Treatments?

Sleep apnea mouth guards, known as mandibular advancement devices (MADs), offer several benefits for individuals with sleep apnea. MADs are specially designed oral appliances that effectively address sleep-related breathing disorders like sleep apnea and snoring. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), MADs have proven to be as effective as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices in mild to moderate cases.

MADs are smaller, less invasive, and easier to use, making them more convenient and patient-friendly. Another advantage of MADs is their lower cost compared to CPAP machines. Ultimately, it is important for doctors to discuss treatment options with their patients, considering the individual's specific needs and weighing the benefits and drawbacks of each approach. Recognizing the importance of convenience and comfort in sleep apnea treatment, researchers have found that many patients are more willing to use MADs compared to CPAP machines. Dentists, in addition to doctors, can play a significant role in treating sleep apnea by providing and monitoring the use of mouth guards. As research continues to emerge, it becomes increasingly clear that an oral device can effectively treat this serious and potentially life-threatening condition.

Reviews

“The process to get a sleep appliance could not have been more painless! The sleep test itself is surprisingly comfortable, and the results come back pretty quickly. Dr. Isabella and Mark do a wonderful job of explaining your sleep report and offering treatment recommendations. The appliance itself fits well and doesn’t feel too bulky or irritating. Overall I could not have been happier with the service!”

- J.P.

“I am so grateful for Dr. Isabella and her team!
Because of her guidance and expertise, I have seen a dramatic improvement in my sleep apnea over the past year: from AHI of 30 qualifying as moderate/severe down to AHI less than 2 which qualifies as no sleep apnea!

Additional Reading

She recommended a combination of approaches including tongue tie revision, myofunctional therapy, and a custom-made oral appliance to wear while sleeping (a major improvement from CPAP) and helped me understand why each was important and how they work together.
None of my prior dentists had educated me on tongue positioning and how my tongue tie could affect my breathing and sleep, and I was delighted and comforted by the depth of knowledge and comprehensive approach that she led me through. Dr. Isabella is thorough and knowledgeable, but most importantly kind and approachable.”

- K.T.

“I've been going to Strobel Dentistry for 20 years. The staff is phenomenal. Recently, they helped me address my sleep apnea with a sleep appliance and breath coaching. It seems to have a solved my issues. Highly recommend.”

- M.D.

“I’ve been a client of Strobel Dentistry for nearly 25 years. During a routine checkup about a year ago I was asked if I’d ever completed a sleep study. I was aware (and had been told by others) that I snored during sleep and I knew that I should have a sleep evaluation done but the thought of going to a sleep facility with all that entails felt overwhelming and unpleasant, so I avoided it. Strobel Dentistry offered a machine that I could use at home that would monitor my sleep and breathing pattern so I readily agreed to it… and I’m so glad I did! ...”

- K.L.

“Myotherapy sessions with Leslie were very informative, effective and professional; yet had a personal approach. Leslie helped me to add extremely useful tools/exercises to my everyday routine that helped eliminate soft tissue tension, misalignment and TMJ pain. I truly believe the Myotheraphy should be part of any oral hygiene education. Thank you Leslie. You rock!”

- K.R.

“I wanted to thank Strobel Dentistry for helping me get a sleep appliance to treat my sleep apnea. Now I feel energized in the morning and my wife says I don't even snore anymore! Dr. Isabella and Mark made sure the whole process went smoothly and answered all of my questions. I truly cannot thank them enough! ”

- K.O.

“Dr. Isabella and Mark were amazing!”

- L.M.

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Sleep Apnea Frequently Asked Questions

What causes sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea may be caused by genetics, poor posture, allergies, enlarged tonsils, and other issues. Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common form of sleep apnea. This is caused by the collapse of airways in the throat and mouth during sleep.

What are lifestyle changes for a better night’s sleep?

There are a few steps you can take to reduce your risk of developing sleep apnea.

Stop smoking – Smoking makes you 3 times more likely to develop sleep apnea.
Maintain a healthy body weight – Overweight individuals have a higher risk of developing sleep apnea.
Reduce Use of Depressants – Limit your use of sedatives, tranquilizers, and alcohol. These substances relax the muscles in your throat, which can lead to obstructive sleep apnea.

Sleep Apnea
in Chicago, IL