Sleep Apnea Treatment in Nutley, NJ
Do you find yourself feeling exhausted by lunchtime? Do you have difficulty concentrating on your tasks during the day? Do you find yourself feeling depressed or hopeless? Do you suffer from frequent headaches, especially in the morning? Does your partner regularly accuse you of loud snoring throughout the night?
All of these issues could be signs that you have sleep apnea.
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that regularly causes you to stop breathing during the night. An obstructed airway is usually what causes sleep apnea, and the lack of oxygen signals your brain to wake you up. Even though you may not realize it, you might be waking up hundreds of times or more throughout the night.
This dangerous sleep disorder is debilitating because it keeps your body from getting the rejuvenating rest that it needs. It can cause a host of issues such as:
- Weight gain
- Chronic fatigue
- Difficulty with memory or concentrating
- Frequent headaches or migraines
- Depression
Sleep apnea also contributes to health concerns such as heart failure, diabetes, ADHD, stroke, and high blood pressure.
How Is Sleep Apnea Treated?
The standard of care for treating sleep apnea is continuous positive air pressure (CPAP) therapy. CPAP requires the patient to wear a mask over his or her face during sleep that delivers 
continuous air supply for breathing throughout the night.
For some patients, the mask feels claustrophobic, and the machine is too loud for sound sleeping during the night. So many patients aren’t compliant about consistently wearing their CPAP mask. Dr. Richard Tom offers an alternative solution for patients with mild to moderate sleep apnea who may be experiencing difficulties wearing their CPAP mask at night.
A custom-made oral appliance can help to reposition your jaw and open your airways for unobstructed breathing. The appliance fits comfortably in your mouth much like a retainer, so it’s easy to get used to wearing it while you sleep.
For many patients, an oral appliance may be enough to eliminate sleep apnea and achieve a good night’s rest. For patients struggling with severe sleep apnea, sometimes the combination of both an oral appliance and CPAP therapy produces the best results.
Dr. Tom has worked closely with general physicians in the past, and he is happy to partner with your doctor to ensure that you receive the most effective sleep apnea treatment in Nutley for your needs.
Contact RT Dental to Learn More
A good night’s rest could be just one phone call away! If you suspect that you or loved one might be suffering from sleep apnea, we encourage you to contact RT Dental and schedule a consultation with Dr. Tom to learn more about this serious sleep disorder.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sleep apnea is a serious condition that causes patients to quit breathing many times throughout the night. Believe it or not, this could actually be happening hundreds of times for those who suffer from severe sleep apnea. If you are suffering from sleep apnea, the condition can be debilitating, but the good news is there are solutions.
CPAP, or continuous positive airway pressure therapy, offers patients clear breathing while they sleep by wearing a mask that delivers a constant stream of oxygen throughout the night.
Many patients find the mask to be uncomfortable to wear at night, or the machine too loud, so it interferes with their sleep. Dr. Richard Tom offers an alternative solution for treating sleep apnea by using an oral appliance that slightly repositions your jaw to open your airways for clear breathing during the night. This can be combined with traditional CPAP therapy for more severe cases of sleep apnea, or sometimes it may replace CPAP therapy altogether.
If you think you might be suffering from sleep apnea, or perhaps you have a CPAP appliance that you’re uncomfortable with, contact RT Dental today. Find out more about how Dr. Tom can help you successfully manage your condition more comfortably.
Meet Our Doctor:
Dr. Richard Tom
Dr. Richard Tom graduated with a B.A. in Biology from Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ. He also served as a soldier in the U.S. Army Reserve with the rank of Specialist in Infantry and Fuel Supply. He then attended the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (now the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine) and received his dental degree in 2001. Afterward, Dr. Tom completed a year-long comprehensive residency in all phases of dentistry and basic hospital medicine at St. Barnabas Hospital in New York City, a Level 1 Trauma Center that serves ...