What Is Sleep Apnea?

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Are you…

  • Suffering from chronic headaches?
  • Snoring or waking up at night?
  • Drowsy throughout the day?
  • Not feeling rested when you wake up?

You may be suffering from sleep apnea, a condition where a person stops breathing dozens or even hundreds of times every night, often without even knowing it!

Sleep apnea does more than affect your quality of life. Left untreated it can lead to serious complications and even death. This is because when breathing is disrupted, the body’s oxygen levels decrease and put extra stress on the neurological and cardiovascular systems. Over time, this can lead to long-term health issues like heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, liver problems, and stroke.

Read More

The Truth About Sleep Apnea: Warning Signs To Watch Out For & How to Protect Your Health

Secrets of Sleep Apnea

Sleep Apnea and Dentistry (Podcast)

Preventing Sleep Apnea Using a Holistic Approach (Podcast)

“Dr. Patel is the BEST dentist in the country. She is on the forefront of dental technology.” — Jen Carter 

“Being a patient of Green Dentistry is one of the best decisions I’ve made in my health journey.  I’m so glad they have holistic options for dentistry! Dr Patel and her staff are absolutely amazing [and] I recommend this practice for everyone!” — Felecia Brown

The Relationship Between Sleep, Breathing, and Your Overall Health

At Green Dentistry, we know that the quality of your sleep deeply impacts your overall health and that proper breathing is crucial. Not only does sleep deprivation make you grumpy, it can cause or exacerbate issues like low libido, ADHD, TMJ, and other medical conditions.

When your sleep is restful and uninterrupted, your body is able to replenish your energy levels, repair free radical damage, and fight disease. Dr. Patel is committed to providing innovative, minimally-invasive treatments that help keep your airway open at night without discomfort. Click below to read more about the connection between sleep apnea, oral myology, your airway, and more.

Read More

Craniofacial Epigenetics (Podcast)

The Dangers of Sleep Deprivation (Podcast)

How Sleep Is Related to Low Libido and Your Teeth (Video)

The Importance of the Tongue in Sleep Apnea (Podcast)

ADHD and Sleep Apnea (Podcast)

B Vitamins and Sleep Apnea (Podcast)

Sleep Apnea – Oral Myology and Your Airway (Podcast)

Why Nasal Breathing Is Important (Video)

How Your Airway and TMJ are Related (Video)

Nasal Breathing and Your Teeth (Podcast)

Good and Bad Foods for Sleep Apnea (Podcast)

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Benefits of Sleep Apnea Treatment

There are numerous benefits to sleep apnea treatment, including but not limited to:

  • Improved sleep. People with sleep apnea can stop breathing up to 90 times an hour, leaving them feeling tired and groggy in the morning. With treatment, you can sleep through the night and wake up feeling more refreshed.
  • Fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression. The risk of mental illnesses like depression and anxiety increases in correlation with the increase in sleep disturbances. Sleep apnea treatment may help improve anxiety and depression or reduce the risk of developing it.
  • Reduced risk of developing cancer. Individuals with untreated obstructive sleep apnea have a higher risk of various types of cancer. With sleep apnea treatment, however, that risk can be lowered.
  • Reduced mortality rate. Sleep apnea has been shown to increase a person’s mortality rate by up to three times the average, for any cause of death, including heart attacks and stroke. Treatment lowers this risk and helps individuals live longer with a better quality of life.
  • Improved blood pressure. Many individuals with sleep apnea also have untreated hypertension, which can go on to cause serious health problems if not addressed. Treating sleep apnea can, by proxy, treat hypertension by reducing blood pressure during sleep.

Vivos Appliance offered by Green Dentistry San Francisco
VIVOS DNA Appliance used by Dr. Nammy Patel at Green Dentistry San Francisco
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CPAP Alternative

CPAP machine isn’t the right choice for everyone when it comes to sleep apnea treatment. Many patients don’t like the feeling of wearing a mask while sleeping or the sound that the CPAP machine makes during the night. If you find that a CPAP is uncomfortable, you’re less likely to be consistent with your treatment.

Read More

How to Avoid a CPAP for Life (Podcast)

Sleep Study Diagnostics and Test Results

The first step to diagnosing sleep apnea is with a comprehensive sleep study. This test is essential for mapping your unique sleep patterns and identifying potential disruptions that could be affecting your health.

Our sleep study uses advanced technology to monitor your breathing patterns, apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), oxygen saturation levels, heart rate, and sleep cycles during the night without discomfort. Once your test is complete, Dr. Patel carefully analyzes your results and creates a personalized treatment plan.

Click here to read more about our sleep studies and what to expect.

Treatment with the Vivos DNA Appliance

The Vivos Daytime-Nighttime Appliance (also known as the DNA Appliance) is the revolutionary, non-surgical method for treating sleep apnea using a mouthguard.

This DNA oral appliance looks similar to a retainer and is fully customized to fit your mouth. This comfortable mouthguard applies gentle intermittent vibrational forces to your teeth to increase the size of your airway.

When using this method to treat sleep apnea, you may also notice other benefits, such as improvement in the alignment of your teeth and reduction of the symptoms caused by TMD.

Here are some exciting benefits of DNA appliances compared to CPAP therapy:

  • DNA appliances offer a permanent solution. When worn regularly, the DNA appliance gently expands the mandible, or upper jaw, at the same time as it balances the patient’s bite. Over time, these changes become permanent.
  • Better teeth alignment. Not only does a DNA appliance widen your airway, preventing it from becoming obstructed during the night, it also works to align your teeth and bite.
  • Reduced symptoms of bruxism. A DNA appliance can help prevent bruxism, or teeth grinding and clenching at night. Many people who use a DNA appliance report reduced tension headaches, jaw pain, and tightness in their neck and upper shoulders.

If you don’t like your CPAP, there’s another option. Contact Green Dentistry today to learn more.

Read More

Vivos DNA Appliance: A Non-Surgical Solution for Sleep Apnea

Increasing Airway Size (Podcast)

The DNA Appliance, a Natural Solution for Sleep Apnea (Podcast)

Vivos Therapeutics for Treatment of Sleep Apnea (Podcast)

Treatment with the OASYS Oral/Nasal Airway System™

The OASYS Oral/Nasal Airway System™ is an innovative new oral appliance that goes beyond preventing throat blockages to also target airway resistance in the nasal passages. Its advanced design allows for treatment of both primary causes of snoring, including obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS).

Click here to read more about OASYS Oral/Nasal Airway System™.

Graphic showing real patient results of VIVOS sleep apnea treatment at Green Dentistry San Francisco

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The A-Z Guide to Holistic Dentistry book by San Francisco Dentist Dr. Nammy Patel

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The A-Z Guide to Holistic Dentistry. It will change the way you think about your mouth, your body, and your health. Download it today!

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Sleep Apnea Treatment FAQ

In this video, Dr. Nammy Patel answers some common questions about sleep apnea

How do I know if I have sleep apnea?

Snoring isn’t the only symptom of sleep apnea. Watch out for other common signs, including:

  • Abrupt waking in the middle of the night followed by shortness of breath
  • Dry mouth or a sore throat in the morning
  • Morning headaches
  • Insomnia
  • Sleepiness during the day

If you notice any of these symptoms, talk to Dr. Patel to find out if you might be suffering from sleep apnea.

What are the risk factors for sleep apnea?

  • Men are twice as likely as women to be diagnosed with sleep apnea
  • Obesity and a neck circumference of 17” or more
  • Lifestyle factors like smoking, drinking, and drug use
  • Research suggests that genetics can influence your risk of developing the disorder

Will my sleep apnea go away by itself?

The only way to rid yourself of sleep apnea is to either change the lifestyle factors contributing to the condition (obesity, smoking, etc.) and/or have surgery to remove excess tissue from your palate or throat. However, there are effective treatment options available to ensure your sleep apnea condition does not affect your sleep or health.

Read More Frequently Asked Questions
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At Green Dentistry, we’re proud to offer patients a modern and holistic dental office right in Union Square — the first of its kind in San Francisco.

Here you’ll find environmentally sustainable features, the latest technology, and a caring, friendly team.

We believe that the more comfortable you are, the less anxious you are, leading to better results from your sleep apnea treatment. We offer spa-like features for your comfort, including:

  • Aromatherapy
  • Neck wraps and heated blankets
  • Healing with essential oils and crystals
  • Noise-cancelling headphones

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Dr. Nammy Patel and her team at Green Dentistry in Downtown San Francisco, California, provide quality dentistry with a holistic approach. They offer their patients exceptional care and service in cosmetic dentistry, Invisalign treatment, laser dentistry, sleep apnea treatment, general holistic dentistry and so much more. They even offer sedation dentistry to their patients. They serve patients throughout the Bay Area. SF Green Dentist is within walking distance from Downtown and the Financial District.

San Francisco dentist Dr Nammy Patel's dental affiliations