Do you wake up tired, in spite of a full night’s sleep? Do you feel fatigued and irritable throughout the day? Maybe your partner has complained about your loud snoring. If any of this sounds familiar, you may be suffering with sleep apnea, a potentially serious condition in which breathing is obstructed during sleep. Dr. Sharon Mateja offers comprehensive sleep apnea assessment and treatment at her Rancho Cucamonga office. She often treats mild to moderate sleep apnea with an oral appliance, and can refer patients with more severe forms of the disorder to a specialist. Contact us today to learn more.

What Is Sleep Apnea?

Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the airways in the back of your throat become blocked when the throat muscles relax during sleep. As a result, breathing may stop a few seconds to a few minutes. When breathing ceases, it sends a signal to your brain, causing you to wake up or move to a lighter stage of sleep. As a result, you may never be able to enter into a deep state of sleep, and you may wake up multiple times in the night, often feeling breathless. Even after a full eight hours of rest, you might feel groggy and have trouble staying awake during the day. Gone untreated, sleep apnea can increase the risk of stroke and heart disease. If you are experiencing any symptoms of sleep apnea, please contact us today.

Sleep Apnea Assessment

Dr. Mateja will conduct an extensive assessment to detect the signs of sleep apnea and determine the proper treatment plan. Her assessment includes examining personal and family medical history, a BMI test, and an examination of the head and neck. She may also recommend a sleep study. This study can be conducted at home using the ground-breaking Ares™ Watermark system, which gathers data electronically while you sleep, and incorporates it with the information collected during your initial exam. Dr. Mateja may also refer you to a sleep clinic for an overnight study.

Sleep Apnea Treatment

Dr. Mateja treats mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea with custom mouthpieces that are designed to keep your airways open at night. If you exhibit the symptoms of more severe sleep apnea, you may require a CPAP machine, which delivers air directly through a mask worn at night. If you do not display the signs of sleep apnea, but have a pronounced snore, Dr. Mateja can also provide you with a Snore Guard®, designed to keep the tongue and jaw from blocking air flow.

Contact Dr. Mateja

If you suffer from sleep apnea, you deserve a good night’s rest. Contact Dr. Sharon Mateja today to schedule your assessment, and learn which steps you can take to correct your sleep disorder, so you can wake up feeling rested and refreshed. Whether you are being treated for sleep apnea, or you are seeking another general or cosmetic dental procedure, Dr. Mateja, can provide you with thorough, expertly performed care.