Since February is American Heart Month, it’s the perfect time to talk about one of the most overlooked contributors to heart disease: Sleep Disordered Breathing.
It’s a cycle many patients don’t realize they are in:
- The Interruption: When snoring leads to a blocked airway, your oxygen levels drop.
- The Stress Response: Your brain panics and sends a jolt of adrenaline to wake your body up just enough to breathe.
- The Heart Strain: This “jolt” causes your heart rate to skyrocket and your blood pressure to spike—over and over, dozens of times a night.
The Long-Term Impact: When sleep disordered breathing is left untreated, the strain from snoring and sleep apnea is directly linked to an increased risk of:
- Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
- Atrial Fibrillation (Irregular Heartbeat)
- Stroke and Heart Attack
The Good News: By treating the “root issue” of your snoring with a custom dental appliance, Dr. Isaac Comfortes isn’t just helping you sleep quieter—he is giving your heart the rest it needs to stay strong.
Why We Provide Free Airway Assessments
At our practice, we believe a dental exam should look at more than just your teeth and gums—it should look at your overall health. That is why we are proud to say that an airway assessment is included with every new patient exam and routine check-up, at no additional cost.
The mouth is the gateway to the body. While we are experts in oral health, we are also in a unique position to spot the early warning signs of Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB) and Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).
Many systemic health issues—ranging from chronic fatigue and high blood pressure to morning headaches—can be traced back to how we breathe while we sleep. Because we see you regularly, we can identify anatomical risks before they become major health crises.
What Dr. Isaac Comfortes Looks For
During your assessment, we aren’t just looking for cavities. We are evaluating:
- Tonsil and Tongue Position: Identifying if they are obstructing the back of the throat.
- Palate Shape: A narrow or high-arched palate can limit nasal breathing.
- Wear Patterns: Teeth grinding (bruxism) is often the body’s way of trying to open a collapsed airway.
- Soft Tissue Indicators: Scalloped tongues or redness that suggest mouth breathing.
The Goal: Prevention and Vitality
By identifying airway restrictions early, we can help you achieve better sleep, improved focus, and a reduced risk of long-term cardiovascular issues. If we notice anything concerning, we will work with you to coordinate next steps, whether that’s a sleep study, orthodontics to create more room for your tongue, or a custom oral sleep appliance.
We aren’t just protecting your smile; we’re protecting your quality of life.
The general, cosmetic and reconstructive dental practice of Encino dentist Dr. Isaac Comfortes is devoted to restoring optimal oral health, which supports whole body health and enhances the natural beauty of smiles.
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