Based in Toms River, New Jersey, Christopher Lillo cares for patients at Oak Ridge Dental Group, PA. Along with practicing general dentistry, Christopher Lillo is one of the few dentists in the region to treat sleep apnea.
Affecting more than 18 million Americans, sleep apnea refers to a condition that harms airflow during sleep. This can lead to insomnia and general day sleepiness, and it may be symptomatic of other conditions. Doctors, including dentists, offer several types of treatment for apnea. CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) therapy is the first recommendation for many doctors. However, many find the CPAP device (a large mask that one wears while they sleep) to be uncomfortable.
Dentists have developed other alternatives to care for patients with the condition. The most common is oral appliance therapy, which is used for mild-to-moderate apnea. Oral appliances are available in two types—a tongue retaining device and a mandibular repositioning device. Both fit in the mouth similar to a mouth guard and keep the tongue or the soft tissues from collapsing to the back of the throat, which allows for increased airflow. For more severe forms of sleep apnea, dentists can perform an upper airway surgery, in which a specific cause is determined and then treated. Common examples include tongue reduction, nasal surgery, and maxillomandibular advancement.
Affecting more than 18 million Americans, sleep apnea refers to a condition that harms airflow during sleep. This can lead to insomnia and general day sleepiness, and it may be symptomatic of other conditions. Doctors, including dentists, offer several types of treatment for apnea. CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) therapy is the first recommendation for many doctors. However, many find the CPAP device (a large mask that one wears while they sleep) to be uncomfortable.
Dentists have developed other alternatives to care for patients with the condition. The most common is oral appliance therapy, which is used for mild-to-moderate apnea. Oral appliances are available in two types—a tongue retaining device and a mandibular repositioning device. Both fit in the mouth similar to a mouth guard and keep the tongue or the soft tissues from collapsing to the back of the throat, which allows for increased airflow. For more severe forms of sleep apnea, dentists can perform an upper airway surgery, in which a specific cause is determined and then treated. Common examples include tongue reduction, nasal surgery, and maxillomandibular advancement.