Dental Sleep Expert, Breath and
Airway Expert for Adults and Children

Sleep apnea is a serious but often undiagnosed condition that affects millions of Americans more and more every year. Patients with this disorder are forced to power through the symptoms because they’ve learned so much about how it feels to be tired during the day from living their whole lives like this. While many patients say they don’t sleep well, we find that when people come in for testing, most can’t believe there’s any chance at all they could have sleep apnea!

Do you feel like your sleep is a struggle? You could be suffering from obstructive sleep apnea. Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) occurs when the airway becomes blocked and doesn’t open up again during breathing pauses, which happen while we’re asleep. This can make it so difficult to get enough restful slumber that extreme exhaustion sets in throughout the day. You may also find yourself feeling discouraged or depressed! Let us help with our extensive screening process for this condition followed by treatment options such as The Vivos System. If needed – we would love nothing more than seeing you reach a quality night’s rest!

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Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

If you suffer from sleep apnea, it can have a major impact on your health. Sleep apnea is when breathing has stopped during the night for at least ten seconds or more and this sudden interruption in oxygen flow leads to various symptoms including:

  • Excessive daytime fatigue
  • Loud snoring
  • Irritability
  • Gasping for air while sleeping
  • Lack of energy
  • Impaired memory
  • Reduced libido
  • Insomnia
  • Frequent urination during the night

Your partner is the one who might notice you snoring or not feeling rested in the morning. They could even hear you wheezing, gasping for air, and/or experiencing shortness of breath at night when they sleep near to you. Are these symptoms a sign that something may be wrong and your restful sleep could be jeopardized?

Our Sleep Apnea Solutions

Our very own Dr. Akraa has recently been approved to provide the Vivos Sleep System. This cutting-edge and non-invasive treatment could potentially provide a quick and painless relief for Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Interestingly, one of the most common reasons for having an obstructed airway is a slightly underdeveloped jawbone. With a full range of treatments for this condition in her repertoire, Dr. Akraa can help determine what’s best for you!

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Your Solution to a Better Night’s Sleep

Sleep apnea is a dangerous disorder that can impact every aspect of your life. Contact Dr. Akraa to schedule a consultation by calling (818) 776-1236 and we’ll start you on the journey towards quality sleep by finding an option for you!

Dr. Akraa offers the best Sleep Apnea solution in Tarzana, CA. You can count on us to have you breathing easy and sleeping soundly again quickly after a consultation with our team here at the office for your convenience.

Sleep Apnea Frequently Asked Questions

What is sleep apnea? Sleep Apnea, or Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), occurs when your airway collapses during a deep sleep. The blockage lasts for 10 seconds or more and makes it impossible to breathe in any air. It’s common because the tissues surrounding our throat muscles relax while we are asleep which can cause an obstruction of airflow. If you snore loudly then there’s a good chance that you have some degree of OSA. This condition affects major organs like your heart and kidneys but thankfully is treated. If not treated, OSA CAN be life threatening – so don’t hesitate to inquire if OSA affects YOU!

A study out of Harvard University found that those who snore consistently have a higher likelihood to develop hardened carotid arteries. This is due not only to the vibration, but also because sleep apnea causes blood flow restriction which creates heart issues which can eventually lead to death.

Sleep apnea may also result from insufficient brain signaling, called central sleep apnea. Breathing is typically a process that happens naturally, but with this type of sleep disorder your brain isn’t sending the right signals to your respiratory system meaning breathing often becomes uneven and then stops altogether for periods lasting up to 10 seconds or more during which time you’re not fully conscious.

Sleep apnea is a dangerous condition that can lead to mental fog and exhaustion. Symptoms include feeling tired, sleeping poorly at night or daytime drowsiness during the day. Sleep breathing issues are often linked with other diseases, so make sure you get checked out in order to avoid further complications!

A person may snore occasionally, due to alcohol consumption or allergies for example. Constant and regular snoring is different: it’s the result of an airway that has been narrowed by relaxation in their throat muscles as well as other parts of the mouth (tongue, roof). Air forces its way through this narrow passage then the tissues vibrate and produce loud sounds which are called ‘snores’.

To know exactly whether you have sleep apnea and to what degree, you should visit the doctor. The results of a sleep study can help identify the best possible treatment for your needs: some signs of Sleep Apnea are grogginess during day time hours, feeling sleepy even after a “good” night’s sleep; snoring loudly at bedtime or while asleep; breathing stops when sleeping. If chronic disruptive snoring is affecting the quality you or your partner’s sleep, then it may be indicative that one has been afflicted with OSA.

Other signs include:

  • Daytime sleepiness and feelings of sleep deprivation
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Depression
  • Sexual dysfunction
  • Irritability
  • Learning and memory challenges

Sleep apnea and snoring are not just an annoyance for people (and the people who sleep near them). These conditions can cause interference with daily living, including:

  • Daytime fatigue or sleepiness
  • Impaired concentration
  • Mood imbalances
  • Increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and high blood pressure.

CPAP is not necessarily the best way to treat sleep apnea. So many people simply can’t tolerate it. That’s why there have been other treatments developed that work just as well if not better. Like The Vivos System.

Dr. Akraa offers an array of methods to treat sleep apnea, including Mandibular Advancement Devices and Vivos Sleep System. The goal of Oral Appliance Therapy is to reposition the mandible in order for it not interrupt with the flow of air when you are fully relaxed during REM sleep by pulling your lower jaw forward so there is more space in the airway without any interruption from a person’s tongue while they’re asleep – this is essential because people who never achieve enough REM (rapid eye movement) will most likely be perpetually restless and never get into a deep restful sleep. If you never achieved the necessary amount of sleep, it’s possible that you’re not fully rested. If your tongue or jaw is too large, these appliances may be able to help provide relief and get a full night’s rest!

The appliance is similar to a mouth guard or orthodontic retainer. It can help with sleep apnea, snoring and other breathing problems that keep you from getting restful sleep because it helps your airway stay open all night long! CPAP masks are uncomfortable and bothersome to wear, but this treatment is simple. There isn’t much discomfort either! Some of the advantages include:

  • No headgear (for children)
  • Easy to use and care for
  • Quit (it’s not a machine on your face!)
  • Extremely portable

If you’ve been having trouble sleeping, don’t fret. There are great ways to make sure that you’re getting enough REM sleep each night and can rest easy knowing that your current problems with breathing while asleep will be solved!

Sleep apnea is a common disorder in which there’s an interruption of airflow as the person sleeps due to either their tongue being too big or their jaw not opening wide enough when they go into REM sleep mode. If this sounds like it may apply for you then try out an oral appliance – they’ll help keep air flowing smoothly so no matter what happens during your sleep, airflow won’t drop below normal.

Dr. Akraa has been a dentist for the past twenty five years. She is well-educated in the latest techniques and technologies, most notably her ability to stay up to date with the latest and greatest in dentistry and dental sleep medicine. The over-the-counter brands simply don’t offer the type of precision adjustments that your mouth needs to naturally realign itself. Watch this video to learn more on “the lost art of science and breathe”.

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