Sleep Disorders

While one might think that sleep disorders and dentistry don't go hand in hand, it is important to know that many sleep disorders and problems (such as snoring) can be addressed with simple oral appliances developed by dentists.

One of the most common sleep disorders that we treat is sleep apnea, typically mild to moderate cases. We conduct in-home sleep studies with a portable device that allows us to conduct a sleep study in a convenient, innovative way for our patients. This sleep study will allow us to determine if a person is appropriate for an oral appliance or if they are someone that should be referred to a regular sleep center to be evaluated for a CPAP machine--or quite possibly surgery if it is a more severe case of sleep apnea.

Once we have determined that our patient is a proper candidate for an oral appliance, we will see them in our office in order to take some impressions and create an appliance that fits right and offers relief from the symptoms of sleep apnea. A sleep apnea appliance basically moves your lower jaw down and forward a bit, in order to get your jaw in a comfortable position and reduce, if not eliminate, the sleep apnea. Therefore, our patients can finally get a restful, healthy sleep without numerous interruptions throughout the night.

It is essential that individuals understand the connection between sleep disorders and their overall health. An individual is 23 times more likely to have a heart attack if they have sleep apnea, so it is a very important part of maintaining our overall health. Treating sleep apnea is essential to living a healthy lifestyle, so call Dr. Sindelar's office today to schedule a sleep study if you are concerned that you are suffering from a mild or moderate sleep disorder.