Dental Sleep Medicine

• Snoring

• Excessive daytime sleepiness

• Tiredness (regardless of the amount of hours that you sleep)

• Clenching/bruxing

• Depression

• Severe Anxiety

• Memory and concentration difficulties

• ADD and ADHD symptoms(especially in children)

• Morning headaches/migraines 

• Gastric reflux

• Dry mouth

• Sore throat

• Weight gain or inability to lose weight

• High blood pressure

• Diabetes

• Poor job performance or problems in school

• Decreased sex drive and/or Impotence

• Choking/gasping sensation that wakes you up

• Insomnia

• Inability to sleep through the night 

Some consequences are as follows:

• Diabetes 

• Obesity

• Cardiovascular problems (including heart attack and stroke)

• Cancer

• Low libido and poor sexual function

• High blood pressure

• Intellectual deterioration (including association with early onset of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease)

If you have symptoms of sleep apnea make sure you speak with your physician or mention this to our hygienists and doctors. 

It is important to determine the root cause of your sleep apnea or else it can be difficult to treat. An overnight or home sleep study may be recommended to analyze and study your sleep and breathing.

Depending on each patient's diagnosis, sleep apnea treatment may be as simple as a lifestyle change such as weight loss or change in diet. Other patients may benefit from the help of a specially designed oral appliance, which prevents airway blockage. Some more severe cases of apnea may require surgical intervention to prevent upper airway obstruction. 

First and foremost, our dentists will examine your living habits and make recommendations for behavioral therapy, such as avoidance of alcohol or sedatives, or sleep positioning devices. Use of pillows to alter your nighttime breathing habits may also be suggested. We've found that treatment through Integrative/Airway-focused Orthodontics may also be useful treatment.

Severe cases may require mechanical therapy in the form of a mechanical device called a CPAP, or Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, uses a mask with an air blower to force air through the patient's upper airway, assuring constant inhalation of adequate amounts of oxygen.  

Unfortunately, almost two-thirds of patients that are given a CPAP do not wear it as prescribed. If you have been diagnosed with mild or moderate sleep apnea or just 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 oral appliance therapy. 

An oral appliance from our Oshkosh, WI dental practice can be effective in reducing a reliance on a CPAP machine. We can fit you with a custom oral device which can eliminate apnea episodes by opening the airway so that you can enjoy a peaceful and healthy night's sleep. Less obtrusive than a CPAP machine, these customized gently advance the lower jaw and tongue to keep the airway open to reduce and even eliminate breathing issues and snoring.

Our team of dental professionals at Glacier Dental in Oshkosh, WI have exceptional training in sleep apnea. Our team at Glacier Dental along with your physician, will help you decide which dental sleep medicine treatment or combination of treatments will work best for you. 

Call us today to learn more and schedule your consult.