How It Works

Sleep Apnea Treatment

Do you struggle with poor sleep? Are you facing difficulty in breathing while sleeping or snoring loudly at night?

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may be to blame. OSA is a breathing disorder that’s related to your sleep quality. It induces difficulty in breathing with an impaired airflow even when you actively try to breathe. When you are asleep, your muscles relax, which causes the soft tissue in the back of the throat to block the airflow.

Thankfully, many of the issues related to sleep apnea can be mitigated by use of a dental sleep apnea device!

Steps for Getting a Dental Sleep Appliance

Step One: Optional Exploration Consultation

Patients who are uncertain what steps they should take to address their snoring or sleep apnea concerns can schedule a 30 minute telemedicine consultation with Dr. Marc. At this very casual virtual visit a patient can expect Dr. Marc to provide education and direction on their next step.

Step Two: Pre-Treatment Home Sleep Testing

Obstructive sleep apnea can only be diagnosed from a sleep test. Snoring can only be diagnosed by ruling out obstructive sleep apnea. If your sleep test is over 5 years old then it is very likely that Dr. Marc will want to update your sleep test. If needed, expect our office to set you up with our partner company who can set you up with a home sleep test that can be picked up locally at our office.

Step Three: Oral Appliance Consultation

At this telemedicine consultation, you should have provided our office with an updated sleep study, a treatment order from an MD, and your medical insurance card (if using medical insurance). Dr. Marc will provide detailed education about oral appliance therapy. Our insurance specialist will review an estimated out of pocket cost and will schedule for impressions, if ready.

Step Four: Impressions For A Dental Sleep Device

A patient can expect to be seen in the office. The type of impression will have been discussed in the previous telemedicine consultation – either polyvinysiloxane (PVS) impression aka “the goop” or an intraoral scan. Both ways are very accurate. At this appointment, a dental assistant will also review an informed consent document and show you examples of some of the devices seen in the telemedicine consultation.

Step Five: Device Try-In and Titration

At this visit the patient will receive their dental sleep device. About 99% of the time the device fits on the first try without any adjustments. Since Dr. Marc has developed such a seamless delivery system, he has recently given patients the option of doing a telemedicine delivery. The device is sent directly to the patient’s home and the patient schedules a 10-minute telemedicine consultation. If the patient chooses an in-office delivery, then expect a 20-minute visit. At either visit, patients will receive instructions on proper insertion, homecare, and titration. Titration is the mechanism of adjusting the jaw position. Again, this can be done either at home or in the office by Dr. Marc.

Step Six: Post-Treatment Sleep Test

During the titration process, patients will monitor their symptoms of sleep apnea. Once patients feel resolution of their symptoms or their jaw cannot protrude any further, then they have reached maximum medical advancement. At this point, the patient will test themselves using the same disposable sleep testing device we gave them for their pre-treatment test. If the pre-treatment sleep test was done somewhere else, then we recommend that the patient follow up with the MD who did the diagnostics.

Step Seven: Device Adjustments And Yearly Monitoring

If the sleep test indicates no further adjustments are necessary then the patient will follow up for a one-year evaluation and a 30-month evaluation. After the 30 month evaluation then the patient can be seen as need or if symptoms change in the future.

BOOK A FREE SLEEP APPLIANCE CONSULTATION!

Discuss you or your spouse’s snoring or CPAP issues with one of Indiana’s top sleep apnea dentists!

Please fill out the form below. All of your contact information will be kept confidential.

“I have been so happy with every visit with Dr Marc Newman! He is super nicer and very informative.

Before coming to Dr Marc and getting my new dental appliance, I did not sleep well and woke up with a headache every morning! I had such low energy during the day from my lack of sleep.

From the very first night of wearing my appliance I have slept so much better. I have not had a single headache and I now have so much energy!!!

I have been so happy with my appliance that I have already recommended Dr Marc to a few people and will be having my husband visit soon!

Thank you again Dr Marc for all you have done for me!”

Lorrie T., Sleep Apnea Patient