Why do I get eight hours of sleep but never feel rested?
You could be one of the 17 percent of the adult population with a sleep-related breathing disorder. You may be getting an adequate number of hours of sleep, but may be deprived of the most restful stages of sleep. Either because of snoring or more serious obstructions in your airway, you may be having your sleep disturbed.
Isn't all sleep the same?
No, normal restful sleep can be categorized in several stages. Stages one, two, three and four are called non-REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep. Each of these stages of sleep gets progressively deeper and more restful. For example, if someone is awakened from stage one sleep, they awaken quite easily. If awakened from stage four sleep, the deepest level of sleep for the brain, they will awaken completely disoriented, often not knowing where they are or what day it is. REM sleep is the stage of sleep where dreaming takes place. While the brain is active, the body experiences partial paralysis in its very deep rest.
What will happen at the first appointment?
The first appointment is very important in developing our understanding of your sleep behavior and assessing how we may be able to help you. Dr. Lawler will carefully review all of your health information that you will provide through your medical history. Bed partners may offer information about your sleep patterns that you are not aware of, so it is helpful to bring them along. Dr. Lawler will evaluate the structure of your head and neck area to assess the appropriateness of oral appliance therapy in your treatment. He will also spend time helping you more fully understand the nature of any sleep disruption, potential sleep-related breathing disorders and the available treatment options. Allow about 1 1/2 hours for the first appointment.
How soon can treatment start after the first appointment?
If you are certain that you want to proceed with treatment, the second appointment can usually follow two weeks later. This is the normal time span to receive preauthorization from your medical insurance company.
Will medical insurance pay for oral appliances to manage my sleep disorder?
The Center for Sound Sleep is one of the few dental offices in Indiana that can provide medical reimbursement service for you. The kind and quality of the policy that you or your employer have purchased will determine potential significant savings to you.
How does dental appliance therapy work?
Dental appliances are worn at night and work by holding the lower jaw forward during sleep. This causes the tongue to come forward and allows the air passage in the throat to open up so that snoring is eliminated and normal breathing can resume.
Can These Appliances Help Manage Snoring?
Yes, these appliances can eliminate “simple” snoring as well as manage some of the most severe breathing obstructions during sleep. We have a lot of very grateful bed partners of the patients we have treated!
Are these appliances comfortable?
We work very closely with our patients ensure that appliances are comfortable and well tolerated. Some of the most recent studies show that 92 percent of patients are still using their appliance two years after treatment began. This is the highest rate of compliance for any treatment method for obstructive sleep disorders.
What are your qualifications for managing snoring and sleep apnea?
Dr. Lawler has trained under the leading authorities in the field of dental sleep medicine and has more than 1000 hours of post-graduate training. He has served as medical director of the Indiana Society of Sleep Professionals and works closely with local physicians, Indiana University Health Bloomington Hospital and other sleep labs.
What possible complications might I have with oral appliance therapy?
The following are complications that can happen with oral appliance therapy:
Tooth discomfort
Jaw or gum discomfort
Excessive salivation
TMD pain or dysfunction
Loosening of the teeth
Tooth-position change
Jaw-position change
Space opening between the back teeth
These complications are rare, almost always temporary and seldom cause anyone to terminate treatment.
Helpful Links
There is a wealth of excellent information about obstructive sleep disorders on the internet. Below we have provided a list of recommended links and resources:
American Sleep Apnea Association www.sleepapnea.org
National Sleep Foundation www.sleepfoundation.org
Talk About Sleep www.talkaboutsleep.com
Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine www.aadsm.org
American Academy of Sleep Medicine www.aasmnet.org