Elevate your smile Today!

View Specials

Sleep Apnea (CPAP Machine) in Washington, DC

Ready to get started?

Contact Us

What Is Snoring and Sleep Apnea?

When the tissues at the back of the throat relax during sleep, the airway narrows and vibrates, causing snoring. For some people, loud snoring signals a more serious condition, Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), a condition that blocks the airway and momentarily interferes with normal breathing. Fortunately, the brain realizes more oxygen is needed and wakes a person up to breathe. OSA sufferers can experience hundreds of apnea episodes in one night, but they likely do not remember them. In fact, many who live alone, or sleep separately, often are unaware of their condition.

A lack of restful sleep as well as “poking” by an irritated sleeping partner often prompt many people to seek relief. The trained dentists at Washington Center for Dentistry can prescribe a CPAP machine to control the condition. CPAP (Continuous Positive Air Pressure) pumps air through a nasal mask to keep the airway open. While it is an effective treatment, some patients find it difficult to tolerate the CPAP unit while they are sleeping. If this is the case, the dentist can offer other alternatives to relieve sleep apnea/snoring symptoms.

Do I Have Sleep Apnea?

While people with sleep apnea think they are sleeping well, they may be struggling for air. As a result, they never receive the benefits of the nightly relaxing sleep needed for good health. Without the feeling of being refreshed, these men and women often drag through their days. More disturbing is that matters can grow worse since the periodic lack of oxygen can cause high blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythms—even a heart attack or stroke.

Sleep apnea is a potentially deadly condition that may increase a patient’s risk of premature death by 50% and risk of cancer death by up to five times. Proper treatment can virtually eliminate these risks, but in order to receive treatment, a patient first has to know that he or she has a problem, which means being aware of the symptoms of sleep apnea.

To find out if you exhibit sleep apnea symptoms, complete the simple questionnaire:

  • Do you snore?
  • Is your snoring interrupted by pauses or choking?
  • Has anyone ever said that you stop breathing or pause in your breathing during sleep?
  • Do you feel fatigued, exhausted or tired?
  • Do you have high blood pressure or diabetes?
  • Do you wake up at night or in the morning with headaches?
  • Have you ever nodded off or fallen asleep while driving?
  • Have you ever been diagnosed with Sleep Apnea?
  • Do you have problems keeping your legs still at night or need to move them to feel comfortable?
  • Do you usually get less than six hours of sleep each night?
  • Do you feel that your sleep is not refreshing or restful?
  • Do you have periods of the day when it is hard to pay attention, to remember things or to stay awake?

If you answered “yes” to some or most of these questions, you should contact Washington Center for Dentistry to set up a sleep apnea consultation. Join our many patients who benefit from simple treatment.

I was in DC for a summer internship and had to make an emergency dental appointment for HORRIBLE tooth pain that basically sprang up overnight. The doctors here were able to see me same-day (and the front desk had such compassion for me!). The doctors were able to quickly diagnose my problem and refer me to a specialist for a root canal— the specialist was incredible! I also want to note that my dentist at home consistently dismissed my complaints of sensitivity and pain. The dentists at this office were able to determine within minutes that I needed a root canal! I would give more than 5 stars if I could, and will absolutely be searching for a new dentist, who is as good as the dentists at Washington Center for Dentistry, when I return home.

L.P. Google

"It’s too good to be True" Was the statement that almost wanted to destroy me due to bad encounters in the past…My Financial Penury finally was Uplifted by Mrs. Hendrick Jennifer an experience, expert online Trader. Do accept our warm well apperception and gratitude from my humble self, my family, that of my friends and co-workers which I referred into your 100% outstanding, tremendous and enormous trading platform/company with a profitable, beneficiary and dependable services, where I invested $1,000 and after a week alongside with Mrs. Hendrick Jennifer skillful Trading strategy I earned a total outcome of $13,000 successful into my bank account. “Don’t wait. The time will never be just right.” Contact Mrs. Hendrick Jennifer Via;WHATSAPP:: +1 (352) 340-2962 EMAIL::[email protected] FACEBOOK PAGE:: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550989666096

N.A. Facebook

Dr. Shlansky and Annie are the best!!!! This clinic is very clean space with many proffesional and skillful dentists/dental hygenists! I have been coming here for 5 years since they were the only place which can squeez me in for a same day emergency root canal on that fateful day. Now my whole family come here!

S.Z. Google

The care is always excellent.

P.V. Google

I traveled from Manhattan to DC to do my Invisalign with Dr. Fordjour. I cannot rave about their level of skill, attentiveness and flexibility when scheduling enough. Dr. Fordjour and his team were incredible and made each trip 1000% worth it. If you are hesitant to travel to DC for your dental care take it from me- it's absolutely unquestionably worth it! I love my smile now more than ever and I won't ever see another dentist!

T. Google

562

Total Reviews

4.9

Average Rating

What Are the Symptoms of Sleep Apnea?

One of the problems with diagnosing sleep apnea is that many of its symptoms are nonspecific and may be ignored for years without realizing how serious they are. Do not ignore these symptoms:

  • Waking with a headache or feeling unrested
  • Daytime sleepiness–especially if you doze off during tasks
  • Short term memory problems
  • Inability to focus
  • Dry mouth or sore throat in the morning
  • Slow metabolism or an inability to lose weight despite exercise and dieting
  • ADD or ADHD symptoms
  • Decreased motivation or sex drive
  • Depression
  • Moodiness

If you notice several of these symptoms of sleep apnea, it’s important to get tested for sleep apnea. With sleep apnea in children, the first signs are often sudden behavioral or performance problems at school. The risks of sleep apnea are cumulative, so it’s important to get treatment sooner, rather than continue to suffer the risks associated with the condition.

What Are the Types of Sleep Apnea?

There are two types of sleep apnea. The most common type, obstructive sleep apnea, is caused by the collapse of your airway during sleep. Snoring is caused by the narrowing of your airway during sleep, so most–70% or more–obstructive sleep apnea sufferers are also snorers. If your spouse complains about your snoring, ask him or her to listen to the pattern of your snoring. If it ends in a choking sound followed by a gasp, you probably suffer from obstructive sleep apnea.

The less common type of sleep apnea, central sleep apnea, is due to a brain dysfunction in which your brain simply stops telling your body to breathe. It is not associated with snoring.

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder characterized by repeated interruptions in breathing during sleep, which can lead to poor sleep quality and various health issues. The primary causes of sleep apnea include obesity, which can result in excess fat around the upper airway, causing it to become blocked. Structural abnormalities, such as a thick neck, large tonsils, or a deviated septum, can also contribute to airway obstruction. Additionally, certain lifestyle factors like smoking, alcohol consumption, and the use of sedatives can relax the muscles of the throat, increasing the likelihood of airway collapse. Other factors include age, with the risk of sleep apnea increasing as one gets older, and genetic predispositions, as the condition often runs in families.

About Us

Get Better Sleep Today

During a “Snoring Consultation” appointment in our office, patients always ask the following two questions: “What causes snoring?” and “What is “sleep apnea?” These topics are all over the media, and patients often are concerned about what their snoring could mean. They are not surprised to hear their tendency to “drag” through their day is a common snoring-related experience, brought on by lower mental and physical energy. Please contact our office today to schedule your "Snoring Consultation."

What are the symptoms of sleep apnea?

The most common symptom sleep apnea is loud, frequent snoring. Other symptoms of sleep apnea include frequent periods during the night in which you stop breathing for up to 10 seconds. Because it occurs while you are sleeping, the symptoms of sleep apnea are most frequently noticed by a loved one.

What are the dangers of sleep apnea?

Your body requires a sufficient amount of oxygen at all times to function normally, In addition to feeling groggy or fuzzy headed from a lack of sleep, sleep apnea has been linked to several serious health issues including hypertension, stroke, heart disease, and high blood pressure. Sleep apnea can also affect proper functioning of your brain causing memory loss, difficulties concentrating, and severe mood swings.

What causes sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea may be caused by a narrow airway but is most often caused by lifestyle factors. Smoking, drinking, and weight gain are all known causes of sleep apnea.
Can lifestyle changes improve sleep apnea?
If your sleep apnea is caused by excessive weight, or lifestyle choices such as drinking alcohol or smoking, there are steps you can take to minimize your risk of future episodes. Studies have found that people who get plenty of exercise, eat a healthy diet, and refrain from alcohol and cigarettes enjoy a much sounder, more beneficial sleep cycle.
What is the treatment for sleep apnea?
At Washington Center for Dentistry, we recommend you combine healthy lifestyle choices with a customized oral device to be worn while you sleep. The devices are molded to fit precisely onto your teeth and act to hold your tongue and lower jaw forward, allowing air to more easily travel through your mouth. These devices are comfortable and unobtrusive, and have been proven effective in treating this dangerous disorder.