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Sleep Apnea

Does your partner complain about your loud snoring?

The American Sleep Apnea Association estimates that about 90 million people snore. About half these people experience what we call simple snoring. But for others, excessive snoring is an indication of a severe sleep disorder called obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA.

For the past 30 years or so, the non-surgical treatment for severe sleep apnea has been a CPAP mask. Unfortunately, many patients resist using the mask because they find it too bulky and uncomfortable to wear during sleep.

At Hollywood Smile Dental, we have a better way; if you have been diagnosed with mild to moderate sleep apnea, you will be pleased to know that Dr. Yefim Khanimov offers a more straightforward solution using a comfortable, customized oral device.

What Is Sleep Apnea?

When you sleep, the muscles in your tongue, jaw, and throat relax. This causes your tongue to fall backward, constricting your airway and preventing oxygen from moving freely from the nose and mouth to the lungs. You stop breathing, and your body has to wake itself up to restart breathing and restore oxygen levels.

Sleep apnea occurs when your normal sleep is interrupted because there isn’t enough oxygen in the blood. For some patients, these episodes can occur hundreds of times a night, and patients with severe sleep apnea may actually stop breathing for minutes at a time.

Studies show that getting adequate sleep is essential for your mental and physical health. If chronic snoring or sleep apnea goes untreated, you are at a higher risk for heart disease, heart attack, anxiety, hypertension, diabetes, and fatigue-related accidents.

What Are the Symptoms of Sleep Apnea?

Some typical symptoms of sleep apnea are:

Loud or excessive snoring
Choking or gasping for air during sleep
Feeling tired or groggy upon awakening
Poor concentration
Irritability

How Do You Treat Sleep Apnea?

If you suspect you have sleep apnea, we will refer you to a sleep physician who will arrange a sleep study test for you. A sleep study involves monitoring your vital signs while you sleep to determine the severity of your sleep apnea and decide the most appropriate treatment.

Patients with severe sleep apnea will still likely require a CPAP mask. But if your condition is mild to moderate, Dr. Khanimov can customize an oral device that has been approved for use by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. The appliance moves your lower jaw slightly forward, which holds your airway open so that you can breathe normally through the night.

Please Call for a Consultation

If you suspect you may be suffering from sleep apnea, please call our Rego Park dental office to arrange a consultation. Dr. Khanimov will review your medical history, lifestyle habits, and perform some tests to determine your risk factors.

You can be confident that we will work with you to find the solution that allows you to sleep comfortably and get the rest your body needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea, also referred to as obstructive sleep apnea or OSA, is a sleep-related breathing disorder. Apnea refers to an interruption in breathing, and sleep apnea occurs when your airway is constricted during sleep.

With sleep apnea, the soft tissues in your throat collapse and block your airway, decreasing the oxygen supply to your body. As your body struggles to get the oxygen it needs, it sends a signal to your brain to wake you up. This is typically accompanied by a loud gasping or snorting sound as you try to breathe. For sleep apnea sufferers, these episodes can occur hundreds of times a night and last for minutes at a time.

The long-term effects of insufficient oxygen flow can lead to hypertension, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and strokes. Treating sleep apnea is crucial, and at Hollywood Smile Dental, we offer a comfortable solution.

Dr. Khanimov will work with a sleep physician to evaluate your needs and see if you are a good candidate for a customized oral device that positions your jaw slightly forward during sleep. This keeps your airway open and allows you to breathe freely again.

If you wake up feeling fatigued or experience irritability or difficulty concentrating, you may have sleep apnea. Please call our Rego Park dental office so we can arrange a consultation to discuss your needs.

Meet Our Doctor:

Yefim Khanimov DDS

"Dentistry has been a perfect fit for me because I enjoy being in the health care field and working with my hands. Helping people on a personal level is what drives me to provide quality dental care. Being in a position to show and explain problems in detail and educate patients as to the solutions for fixing those problems brings me fulfillment and joy in what I do for a living."

Dr. Yefim Khanimov is a graduate of State University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine. Before studying at State University ...