Joseph Vollo, DDS • Katherine Vollo, DDSSleep Apnea Therapy – Rochester, NY
Get the Rest You Deserve By Treating Your Sleep Apnea
Countless Americans are impacted by sleep apnea, a widespread health problem that can lead to a poor quality of life. When you’re resting, your body is repairing and recharging itself for the next day. The problem is if your sleep is constantly being interrupted, it won’t be able to. When you visit your dentist for sleep apnea therapy in Rochester, you can get a custom-tailored, comfortable oral appliance to help open your airways and increase your oxygen flow. That way you won’t feel tired the next morning! All you need to do is visit Drs. Katherine Vollo and Joseph Vollo for a consultation!
What is Sleep Apnea?
The most common type of sleep apnea that people are afflicted with is obstructive sleep apnea or OSA. When your airways are partially or fully blocked, your breathing will be regularly interrupted throughout the night, keeping you from reaching a state of deep rest. Some common symptoms of this health condition include:
- Chronic snoring.
- Feeling fatigued in the morning.
- Memory or concentration problems.
- Sore throat in the morning.
- Morning migraines or headaches.
- Gasping for air or snorting while sleeping.
If you or your partner have noticed that you are exhibiting any of these signs, make sure to contact your dentist in Rochester right away. We’ll be more than happy to schedule a consultation for you.
Is Sleep Apnea Dangerous?
Sleep apnea has been linked to several serious health problems. When you have multiple episodes throughout the night where your breathing lapses for 10 seconds or longer, it can keep oxygen from reaching your brain. To make matters worse, most patients who are suffering from this condition experience these episodes hundreds of times each night. Some health conditions that can be caused by this include:
- Memory loss
- Daytime drowsiness
- High blood pressure
- Stroke
- Diabetes
- Depression
- Migraines
- Heart complications
Many cases of sleep apnea go untreated, resulting in difficulty performing everyday activities like operating vehicles or concentrating at work or school. That’s why oral appliances for sleep apnea in Rochester are so important. With the proper care, you can improve your quality of life.
What is Oral Appliance Therapy?
There are two basic, non-surgical treatment options for sleep apnea: CPAP and an oral appliance. Many patients have a difficult time adjusting to the feeling of having something over their face while they’re sleeping, which is why they often elect for an oral appliance. There are countless styles and types to help open your airway and allow maximum oxygen flow to improve your quality of rest. Each appliance is custom-fitted to ease your jaw forward and resembles a retainer. In some cases of sleep apnea, we may even recommend combining both CPAP and an oral appliance.
If you have been diagnosed with mild to moderate sleep apnea, Drs. Katherine Vollo and Joseph Vollo can help. Save your body the stress and hassle of juggling daily life without getting the proper rest by scheduling a consultation today!
Understanding the Cost of Sleep Apnea Treatment
Everyone’s situation is a little bit different, so the cost of sleep apnea treatment can vary. We will go more into detail about the estimated costs of your treatment when you visit us in person. During this time, we will discuss specific numbers and all of your financial options. Until then, here are some things for you to take into consideration.
Does Dental Insurance Cover the Cost of Sleep Apnea Treatment?
Dental insurance doesn’t cover the cost of sleep apnea treatment. Instead, sleep apnea diagnoses and treatment are usually dealt with through your medical insurance plan. To learn more about your coverage, it’s a good idea to reach out to your provider directly. One of our friendly team members would also be happy to assist you with this process. You could end up with significantly lower out-of-pocket costs.
Factors That Affect the Cost of Sleep Apnea Treatment
There are multiple different factors that can contribute to the cost of your sleep apnea treatment. Here are the ones that play the largest roles:
- Types of Treatment: There are multiple methods of addressing sleep apnea, and these treatments all have different price ranges. At our practice, we use oral appliance therapy to reduce sleep apnea symptoms. This is generally more affordable than CPAP therapy and other methods.
- Insurance Coverage: Depending on your medical insurance coverage, more or less of your treatment will be included. With proper preauthorization, medical insurance plans will typically say how much they plan to cover before you receive your device.
Treat Your Sleep Apnea Now to Improve Your Health
Many people wonder if it’s worthwhile to go through a sleep apnea diagnosis and treatment process. Whether or not you have health insurance that covers treatment, you can be confident that undergoing treatment will be beneficial for your well-being. People with untreated sleep apnea are at higher risk of many different health problems, including some that are serious and life-threatening, like stroke, heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, depression, weight gain, and more! These problems will eventually result in high medical bills and lower quality of life.
Making Sleep Apnea Treatment More Affordable
If you don’t have medical insurance, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you will be left completely on your own. We’re happy to accept payments through CareCredit – a third-party financing company that can split the cost of your treatment into manageable monthly installments with little to no interest. To learn more about your financial options, don’t hesitate to reach out to one of our friendly team members!
Sleep Apnea FAQs
Does Everyone Who Snores Have Sleep Apnea?
Not everyone who snores has sleep apnea and not everyone with sleep apnea snores. However, snoring is a very common symptom among those who have this condition. In order to diagnose sleep apnea, one needs to undergo a sleep study. Then you can move forward with the sleep apnea treatment process. This condition is very common, as approximately 20 million people in the United States have sleep apnea.
Will Oral Appliance Therapy Make CPAP Therapy Unnecessary?
CPAP therapy works by physically forcing air through the airways with a mask that is worn throughout the night. While this treatment is effective for many, a lot of people find this to be very uncomfortable. In fact, only about 50% of patients who are prescribed CPAP therapy actually use it. For those with mild to moderate sleep apnea, an oral appliance may be able to completely replace CPAP therapy. If you have severe sleep apnea, a combination of the two may be ideal. During your appointment, we can discuss your options and put together a plan that is right for you.
Will My Sleep Apnea Go Away If I Lose Weight?
This is a possibility. Being overweight is a major risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea. This is because excess weight and tissue can block the airway. Losing this weight can reduce the tissue in the airway. However, losing weight may not rid you of this condition completely. You would need to undergo another sleep test after your weight loss to confirm if you still have the condition.
How Should I Clean My Sleep Apnea Oral Appliance?
It is important to keep your oral appliance clean to avoid cavities, gum disease, and other complications. Every morning, you should brush your oral appliance immediately after taking it out of your mouth. When you aren’t wearing your oral appliance, keep it in a case so you don’t misplace it. Denture cleanser can help to keep your appliance squeaky clean.
Who Is Most at Risk for Sleep Apnea?
Anyone can get sleep apnea, but there are several factors that can increase your risk. You may be more likely to develop sleep apnea if you are male, a post-menopausal woman, overweight or obese, pregnant, or have untreated tongue tie. If you think you may have sleep apnea, schedule an appointment with us so we can discuss your symptoms.