
Sleep Apnea Treatment
Sleep apnea does more than just cause you to snore: this serious condition makes getting a good night's sleep nearly impossible.
Left untreated, it can lead to serious health issues and can even be fatal in extreme cases. Fortunately, effective treatments are available.
Learn how sleep apnea treatment from Delany Dental Care in Gurnee, IL, can help improve your life by giving you some much-needed rest.
Request a Consultation
If you suspect you have sleep apnea or have been diagnosed and are seeking treatment, Delany Dental Care is here to help. Start the process by requesting a consultation at our Gurnee, IL, office: (847) 623-5530
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a major health concern for millions of Americans and is often ignored or misdiagnosed. Untreated sleep apnea can cause someone to stop breathing repeatedly while sleeping. In some cases, breathing can stop hundreds of times during the night and may not resume for up to a minute or longer at times.
Treatment of sleep apnea offers patients a number of positive health benefits, including better sleep, improved mood and concentration. It can also lower your risk of developing life-threatening health issues such as heart attack and stroke.
Unobstructed vs. Obstructed Sleep
Sleep disorders can take a toll on your physical and mental health, making treatment vital. In patients with obstructive sleep apnea, the muscles at the back of the throat relax during sleep. This narrows or altogether closes the airway.

Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea can often be misdiagnosed, since the symptoms can occur in a variety of sleep disorders. If you have a combination of the following symptoms, request a consultation to diagnose and treat your condition. Symptoms of sleep apnea can include:
- Snoring
- High blood pressure
- Poor sleep quality
- Headaches after you wake up
- Dry mouth or sore throat
- Daytime sleepiness
- Trouble focusing
- Weight gain
Treatment for Sleep Apnea Can Improve Your Life
Better Quality Sleep
Waking up periodically throughout the night will affect your waking hours, causing constant sleepiness as well as a host of other physical and mental health problems.
Increased Focus
By improving the quality of your sleep, you will soon notice an improvement in your ability to concentrate, as well. This can also cultivate more positive moods and an overall upswing in your general well-being.
Overall Health
Many patients do not realize how severely their general health is affected by a disorder such as sleep apnea. Treatment can significantly improve your life by lowering hypertension, stress, and reducing your risk for heart disease and stroke.
Who Is at Risk for Sleep Apnea?
Those who are at the greatest risk are men, patients who are obese, have high blood pressure, and individuals over the age of forty. However, many people are affected: in fact, there is a surprising number of young healthy males and females that are treated for apnea, snoring, and upper airway resistance syndrome who do not have any of these risk factors. Many people in Gurnee, IL, who suffer from this sleep disorder may not realize that their constant fatigue or snoring is due to sleep apnea.
"Anyone with TMJ, or sleep apnea issues needs to visit Delany Dental Care." 5-Star Reviews From Gurnee, IL, Patients
Anyone with TMJ, or sleep apnea issues needs to visit Delany Dental Care. I started one year ago with Dr. Shapira. I was diagnosed with sleep apnea and also was snoring all night long. I had a consult with Dr. Shapira and he treated me with a DNA appliance. I did my homework on CPAP machine and did not want one. It is a bandaid in my opinion. I have a cure from my DNA appliance. I have to say using snore lab app every night for a year, my sleep apnea and snoring have changed. I went from full snoring all night and most often stopped breathing most often during the night, 100%, to under 5%. I can now sleep on my back with no blockage from airways. I wake rested and have no headaches. I appreciate Delany Dental and Dr. Shapira for his care and knowledge.
View On GoogleThis is a great place to go if you have fear or anxiety associated with dental visits.I was especially nervous to get some dental work done because I've had painful experiences in the past (at other practices). Dr. Shapira was incredibly patient with me and personable. After numbing me he started working on my tooth, noticed me flinch, and immediately stopped to numb me some more. This went on a few more times. It turns out some people just require more numbing medicine than others. My previous dentist did not take the time to make sure I was properly numbed, and I had just assumed that the pain was part of it. The rest of my visit went smoothly. It's truly amazing how a caring and knowledgeable dentist can alleviate some of the fear.
View On GoogleTypes of Sleep Apnea

Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common form of sleep apnea. Your upper airway is obstructed when the muscles in the back of your throat relax. Low oxygen levels may cause you to snore or suddenly wake up, leading to poor sleep.

Central Sleep Apnea
While a physical body part causes obstructive sleep, central sleep apnea is caused by brain activity. Patients with central sleep apnea have trouble relaying the message to breathe from their brain to their lungs. Central sleep apnea cannot be fixed with oral appliances.

Mixed Sleep Apnea
Mixed sleep apnea is the rarest form of the condition and occurs when a patient has both obstructive and central sleep apnea. A sleep study can help us know if your sleep apnea is mixed or not.
Sleep Apnea and Mental Health
Treatment Tailored to Fit Your Specific Needs
Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common form of sleep apnea. Usually caused by an airway blockage, obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the soft tissue (tongue, soft palate, and pharyngeal walls) in the rear of the throat collapses and closes off your airway while you sleep. The most common symptoms are snoring, episodes of not breathing, and excessive daytime sleepiness.
Mild cases of obstructive sleep apnea can be treated with lifestyle changes such as weight loss. If obstructive sleep apnea symptoms persist, however, a physician will prescribe a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device. These machines deliver continuous positive airway pressure via a mask in order to keep the airway open, eliminating the symptoms associated with obstructive sleep apnea.
Unfortunately, while continuous positive airway pressure device treatment is effective, many patients have a hard time tolerating these machines. For those who simply cannot sleep wearing a mask, and may have to resort to sleep medicine to get a full night of rest, Dr. Ira Shapira of Delany Dental Care in Gurnee, IL, can treat the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea disorder with an oral appliance.
"The Appliance Was Wonderful" Hear From One of Our Patients
The team of dental professionals at Delany Dental Care in Gurnee, IL, can assist those who suffer from the symptoms of sleep apnea disorder. If you have found that a CPAP device helps eliminate apnea episodes and symptoms such as snoring, but is too intrusive to use on a regular basis, you may benefit from an oral appliance. You should not have to resort to sleep medicine, either over-the-counter or prescribed by a physician, to sleep at night.
An oral device from our Gurnee, IL, dental practice can be effective in reducing a reliance on sleep medicine or a CPAP machine. A custom oral device can eliminate apnea episodes by opening the air passages so that you can enjoy a good night's sleep. Less obtrusive than a CPAP machine, these customized appliances reposition the lower jaw and tongue to keep the airway open to reduce and even eliminate breathing issues and snoring.
Find Out How Our Team Can Help You
We have effectively treated hundreds of patients who have experienced firs hand an increase in sleep quality and a reduction of airway obstruction. Replace your CPAP device, eliminate snoring, and increase the quality of sleep for both you and your partner, with a device from Delany Dental Care. Our team aims to offer patients treatment that is as effective as CPAP, only much more comfortable and easier to use.
To schedule a consultation to learn how an oral appliance can help with you obstructive sleep apnea, contact our Gurnee, IL dentist office online, or call us at:
(847) 623-5530
Life-Changing Results
The importance of a night of good sleep cannot be understated. Many of us take it for granted, but those suffering from sleep apnea live with the consequences of a long-term lack of sleep. While CPAP is considered the "gold standard" treatment for obstructive sleep apnea, many find the device difficult to wear. It does not matter how effective treatment is if a patient suffering from sleep apnea is unwilling to use the device.
Oral appliances have proved to be more effective at treating sleep apnea for the simple reason that patients are willing to use them on a regular basis. Coupled with recent advances in technology, oral appliances continue to improve, allowing those who have trouble using CPAP devices the ability to take advantage of a good night's sleep.
The team at Delany Dental Care in Gurnee, IL, can help those suffering from moderate to severe sleep apnea get the rest they need with the help of a custom oral appliance. In doing so, they can enjoy the many benefits of a full night's rest, including lowered risks of depression, better mood, and more energy throughout the day.
"He was easily the nicest and most informative dentist." 5-Star Reviews From Gurnee, IL, Patients
The most thorough experience I’ve ever had with a dentist. They made sure to explain exactly what they were seeing and go over exactly how to improve your teeth and gum health. Everyone was friendly and made me feel very comfortable.
View On GoogleDr Amidei, made me feel comfortable right away. He sat talked to me about any issues and expectations I had. He was gentle during examination. He was thorough. Most importantly he is very honest...a total straight shooter. The first good dentist experience I've had in a very long time.
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