Relief Begins Here

We discuss your sleep issues. This can be on the phone, online or in person. Due to HIPPA privacy regulations, we can only do so much over the phone and via email. It all starts with a phone call (or an email). Begin your journey to a more restful night’s sleep today!

Research and technological advancement in dentistry have occurred at a staggering pace and who could have predicted at the beginning of our careers that 3D imaging, CAD designed restorations, and laser surgeries would be commonplace in our profession. No less intriguing and challenging has been my introduction to the field of dental sleep medicine in 2008. I made the commitment to devote my career to this field and began practicing sleep apnea management full time in 2011; ultimately becoming Diplomate credentialed by both the ACSDD and the ABDSM.

The greatest challenge I have faced is educating physicians regarding the validity of oral appliance therapy and encouraging them to be comfortable advising their patients to consider this option when PAP therapy is not being used. New technology allowing the pretesting of patients to determine responsiveness to the oral device may ultimately help change the paradigm. Writing articles and essays on the topic at hand is one method I have used to help improve awareness, and I have written and presented programs to the public, to dentists and physicians as well.

Although dentists cannot diagnose sleep apnea, they can consult and provide screening examinations including take-home sleep monitors. After an individual has been diagnosed with sleep apnea by a physician, a dentist specializing in dental sleep medicine can participate in apnea management therapy and can customize oral devices as an alternative to breathing machines (generally in mild to moderate cases of OSA or when patients are not in compliance with pressure breathing machines such as CPAP).

It is important for a dentist to be properly trained in the field of dental sleep medicine, which can include membership in academies such as the Academy of Clinical Sleep Disorders Disciplines and the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine.

A dentist with specialized training treatment in dental sleep medicine can provide you with a custom oral airway dilator for use at night. Similar in appearance to orthodontic retainers or a sports mouth guard, they fit over your teeth and work by either moving your lower jaw forward slightly or by placing gentle pressure on the tongue to keep it from falling back.

Oral appliance therapy (OAT) involves the selection, customized design, fitting and follow-up adjustments of an oral appliance. Every OSA patient has specific needs. Sleep medicine dentists are the only dentists trained to properly manage sleep apnea as opposed to simply minimizing snoring. At SleepMatters, PLC,  a number of different oral appliances are available providing the patient the broadest range of oral appliance options. The healthcare providers at SleepMatters, PLC, may ask their patients to have a follow-up sleep study to ensure the apnea therapy management is working. Oral appliances are a safe and effective alternative to CPAP and other pressure breathing machines. This is important to know as nearly 70% of people with apnea cannot tolerate breathing machines like CPAP.

It all can begin with a call or an email! Whatever the easiest way for you is, contact us to begin the journey to healthier, more restful sleep. The call is free, and your more restful, healthy sleep is one step closer. Make your appointment today!

Oral appliance therapy (OAT) involves the selection, customized design, fitting and follow-up adjustments of an oral appliance. Every OSA patient has specific needs. Sleep medicine dentists are the only dentists trained to properly manage sleep apnea as opposed to simply minimizing snoring. At SleepMatters, PLC, a number of different oral appliances are available providing the patient the broadest range of oral appliance options.

The healthcare providers at SleepMatters, PLC may ask their patients to have a follow-up sleep study to ensure the apnea therapy management is working. Oral appliances are a safe and effective alternative to CPAP and other pressure breathing machines. This is important to know as nearly 70% of people with apnea cannot tolerate breathing machines like CPAP.