Sleeptember

If your jaw hurts or your teeth are misaligned, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may be to blame. Although OSA is believed to be one of the most common health conditions in the United States, it is underdiagnosed. Consequently, nighttime tooth grinding (bruxism) being caused by OSA often is not treated properly. At the Miami Beach and North Miami Beach dental offices of Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk, we want our patients to know how to address the source of the problem, which is why we’re pleased the American Sleep Apnea Association’s “Sleeptember campaign” is raising awareness of this issue.

In people with OSA, there is something, usually the tongue, blocking the airway. This prevents enough oxygen from getting to the patients’ blood and causes them to be pulled out of deep sleep throughout the night, leaving them fatigued. Bruxism results from the body unconsciously attempting to open an airway. The pressure put on teeth could cause them to tilt outward or, in the worst cases, crack.

Besides fatigue, other signs might include snoring and floppy eyelids. Overweight men are especially at risk. People who suspect they have OSA can get assessed at a sleep clinic, where their airways will be examined. They may be provided with a CPAP machine. We can also assist by fabricating custom-fitted oral appliances called night guards that will keep the jaws apart at night, protecting the teeth from further damage.

Dr. Allen Ressler, Dr. Andrew Hirschl, and Dr. Ira Lelchuk operate from two locations. To schedule an appointment at the location at Mount Sinai Medical Center, 4300 Alton Road, Suite 1190, Miami Beach, Florida, 33140, call 305-532-1444. To schedule an appointment at Intracoastal Mall, 3909 NE 163^rdSt, Suite 310, North Miami Beach, Florida, 33160, call 305-949-2630. They can also be reached on their website, Miami Dental through a contact form.

 

Central Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a condition in which a patient stops breathing or takes pauses while breathing during sleep. There are two different types of sleep apnea. We’ve previously mentioned obstructive sleep apnea, but in this post, Drs. Ressler, Hirschl & Lelchuk, DDS, PA, are going to discuss central sleep apnea. Central sleep apnea has similarities to obstructive sleep apnea but the difference is that there is no blockage of the airway.

Obstructive sleep apnea occurs because of a physical blockage in the airway, while central sleep apnea is more psychological. In central sleep apnea, breathing is regularly disrupted during sleep because of the way the brain functions. The symptoms remain the same; therefore, if you experience morning headaches, restless sleep, or chronic fatigue, it’s important to receive a proper diagnosis and explore your treatment options.

If you have questions or concerns about sleep apnea, please give us a call. To learn more about dental health as well as the services we provide at the practice, visit www.miami-dental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors, give us a call at our Miami Beach office: 305-532-1444 or North Miami Beach office: 305-949-2630. 

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

You and your partner may laugh off loud snoring, but snoring is usually the result of an underlying problem, such as sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common form of sleep apnea and it is characterized by a patient taking pauses in breathing during sleep. If you or your partner find yourself waking up in the middle of the night gasping for air, or can’t seem to shake off fatigue, visit Drs. Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk to rule out sleep apnea.

Not everyone who snores has sleep apnea, which is why it’s important to receive a proper diagnosis. Adults and children may differ in symptoms, but common symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea include dry mouth or throat in the morning, chest pain upon waking up, morning headaches, or mood instability. Regardless of what is causing obstructive sleep apnea, it’s a serious matter and should be treated promptly.

If you have questions or concerns about sleep apnea, please give us a call. To learn more about dental health as well as the services we provide at the practice, visit www.miami-dental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors, give us a call at our Miami Beach office: 305-532-1444 or North Miami Beach office: 305-949-2630. 

Sleep Apnea and Acid Reflux

We provide patients with treatments for a wide range of dental and oral health issues at the offices of Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk. Oftentimes, a comprehensive approach is necessary because two problems are linked. An example is acid reflux and sleep apnea.

Acid reflux and sleep apnea are both common maladies in people who are overweight, but it’s possible that one also contributes to the other. When stomach acid escapes into the esophagus and oral cavity, the burning sensation is commonly known as heartburn. Night time teeth grinding, or bruxism, can happen when the body is attempting to keep airways open, and the presence of fluid in the esophagus may trigger this. Acid reflux also causes enamel erosion and can irritate the teeth, which may result in nighttime jaw movements. All these disruptions can also interfere with sleep quality.

People are less likely to suffer from acid reflux if they avoid meals before bed and reduce their consumption of acidic food and dairy. New research has found that use of CPAP machines, a common treatment for sleep apnea, is associated with lower frequencies of acid reflux.

Dr. Allen Ressler, Dr. Andrew Hirschl, and Dr. Ira Lelchuk operate from two locations. To schedule an appointment at the location at Mount Sinai Medical Center, 4300 Alton Road, Suite 1190, Miami Beach, Florida, 33140, call 305-532-1444. To schedule an appointment at Intracoastal Mall, 3909 NE 163^rdSt, Suite 310, North Miami Beach, Florida, 33160, call 305-949-2630. They can also be reached on their website, Miami Dental through a contact form.

Diabetes and Sleep Apnea

We take care of more than just teeth at the dental offices of Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk. Our doctors are members of the staff at Mount Sinai Medical Center and help to treat obstructive sleep apnea (OAS). To help combat this serious health threat, we want our patients to understand how OAS is related to diabetes.

People who have OAS are often also diabetic. It may not be that one directly causes the other; diabetes, a metabolic disorder, is common among obese people, whose soft tissue is more likely to press down on their airways when they lie down. It is believed that OAS may worsen diabetes. The stress from waking up or nearly waking up during the night releases hormones which signal to the body to release glucose. It is also believed that people’s sleep is disrupted by the pain or unpleasant feeling of peripheral neuropathy, which is a result of the damage diabetes does to the nervous system.

We can help some OAS patients by providing them with removable oral devices to help their breathing at night. Our hospital access also allows us to refer  for surgery to remove obstructions, if necessary. Regardless, the dentist is an important part of a diabetic patient’s care team.

Dr. Allen Ressler, Dr. Andrew Hirschl, and Dr. Ira Lelchuk operate from two locations. To schedule an appointment at the location at Mount Sinai Medical Center, 4300 Alton Road, Suite 1190, Miami Beach, Florida, 33140, call 305-532-1444. To schedule an appointment at Intracoastal Mall, 3909 NE 163^rdSt, Suite 310, North Miami Beach, Florida, 33160, call 305-949-2630. They can also be reached on their website, Miami-Dental.com, through a contact form.