Do you think you have sleep apnea?
Are you excessively tired all of the time and find yourself snoring or catching your breath while you lay in bed? Do you hate your current CPAP device?
Well, get ready to have the best night of sleep that you've had in a long time. Along with that restful slumber comes a health-oriented peace of mind. When left untreated, sleep disorders contribute to hypertension (high blood pressure), congestive heart failure (CHF), stroke, and other forms of heart disease. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends dental-oral appliances as "primary therap[ies] for the treatment of mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea [or] for patients with severe sleep apnea who cannot tolerate CPAP treatment."
Sleep appliances are custom fit by the dental team and attach to the top and bottom teeth similarly to nightguards. The Herbst appliance positions your jaw forward in a manner that opens your airway for easier breathing, helping to reduce or eliminate snoring and decrease your frequency of apnic episodes. Watch the video below to see what a Herbst appliance looks like and how it functions.
It is important to note that you need a formal sleep study to be conducted by a licensed sleep clinic prior to an appliance being made. An example of a local sleep clinic in Central Oregon is the St. Charles Sleep Center. The sleep study generates a medical report that informs the sleep doctor and the dental team of your sleep disorder diagnosis, which is vital in determining the right treatment for you.
Upon completion of your sleep study with your sleep physician, our office manager, Brianna, pre-authorizes all oral appliances with your medical insurance to ensure that you owe as little out-of-pocket as possible. Please note that, at this time, we are NOT able to bill Medicare for sleep appliances, though we are happy to give you a private-pay discount if you elect to have a device made.
Give us a call at (541) 647-5555 to get started on your sleep journey!
