Our Services
At Sleep Carolina, we offer Oral Appliance therapy for patients who have been diagnosed with sleep apnea and/or snoring. If you have tried and failed with CPAP therapy, we will present you with more options. With our complimentary consultation, Sleep Carolina can help you find a solution.
- Oral Appliance Therapy
- For Physicians: Referring Patients
For Physicians: Referring Patients
Sleep Carolina understands the frustration that you may be feeling if a patient is unable to tolerate CPAP and we are here for you. What you can expect from our office:
- We follow AADSM protocol for treating sleep apnea as well as the North Carolina Medical Board.
- We will always send follow up letters so you can follow along with your patient’s treatment.
- We will always require a referral from your patient’s sleep doctor or primary care doctor. (No online or office diagnosing)
- We are participating providers with Medicare and Tricare. We work with and DIRECTLY bill all major medical insurance plans.
- We always use the highest quality appliances. We are not a one size fits all office!
- We are committed to continuing education for sleep apnea, oral appliance therapy and are constantly challenging ourselves to reading the latest studies and attending all sleep CE courses.
- We are not afraid to tell a patient that Oral appliance therapy may not work for them based on our findings with the patient.
- We educate patients on the adjunct treatment options such as bed wedges, nasal cones/strips, sleep masks, diet/weight loss, and proper sleep hygiene.
- We continue to see great results with the use of oral appliances and also recognize that the CPAP is still the gold standard in treating Sleep Apnea.
We enjoy meeting with physicians and their team to educate on Oral Appliance Therapy and how we can be a resource for you and your patients.
If this is something you feel will benefit your office and would like to schedule a lunch and learn please contact us at sleepcarolina@gmail.com.
*Please note, when referring a patient to our offices, we need a copy of the patient’s Diagnostic Sleep Study and a prescription. (see below)
Oral Appliance Therapy
The Process
- Free initial consultation
- Referral to your physician or sleep specialist (unless you already have a prescription for an oral appliance from your doctor)
- Records and Impression: We will take an impression of your teeth, and record a bite registration with your lower jaw pushed forward.
- The impression and records will be sent to a lab for appliance construction.
- Delivery: Once completed, we will examine the appliance and confirm its fit. Then we will send you home with instructions for the cleaning, insertion, removal, and general care of your appliance.
- Follow-up appointments to monitor and adjust the appliance for treatment efficacy as needed, or at least annually.
There are many different options for dental sleep appliances. It is important that they be FDA approved. Listed below are a few of our favorites.
Oral Appliances
Panthera
The Panthera Digital-Sleep Apnea Device is a dental appliance that can be used for the treatment of snoring and/or obstructive sleep apnea. The appliance is made of type 12 polyamide, a resistant biocompatible nylon. It is the smallest device in the industry and is the only one that is entirely printed using CAD/CAM technology. The Panthera D-SAD is recommended to be prescribed for the treatment of snoring, mild to moderate sleep apnea, and severe sleep apnea for patients who do not tolerate the CPAP treatment or comply with it.
Herbst
Our team will support you in building a healthier you. No matter what your health needs are, having a team support you will keep you on the path to meeting them. We work together to connect you with the services you need.
Micro 2- ProSomnus ®
One of the appliances provided by our sleep dentists is the MicrO2® sleep apnea oral device. The MicrO2 device helps relieve snoring and other obstructive sleep apnea symptoms, and is comfortable and easy-to-use. If your local sleep specialist has diagnosed you with obstructive sleep apnea, we can provide the MicrO2® device to help relieve your symptoms. You will rest better at night and enjoy better overall health. The MicrO2 offers greater tongue space through its small design. It is one of the most comfortable custom-made lower jaw advancement devices now available. It works by pushing and maintaining your lower jaw slightly forward, lifting the throat tissues away from the back of the throat, and clearing your airways.
A MicrO2 device is only available through your dentist.
Learn more about MicrO2, and schedule your complimentary consultation.
FAQ's
Additional Information
Millions of people in the US have sleep apnea—suffering through restless nights, sleep deprivation, low oxygenation, and headaches, all without recognizing their symptoms. Below are tips and information to help patients understand their symptoms. To learn more about sleep apnea in Fayetteville, NC, phone our local office at 910-920-3232.
What Is Sleep Apnea?
This sleeping disorder is divided into two main types: obstructive and central sleep apnea. Both occur when breathing becomes very shallow or stops for a short duration while sleeping, and can occur hundreds of times throughout a single sleep cycle.
Common Symptoms:
- Snoring
- Obesity
- Poor Memory
- Morning Headaches
- Excessive Daytime Sleepiness
- Depression
- Irritability
- Confusion
- Poor Job Performance
- Automobile Accidents
- Decreased Sex Drive
- Increased blood sugars and blood pressure
How Does Sleep Apnea Affect Me?
There are many symptoms of sleep apnea that are easily recognizable. These include loud, chronic snoring, waking up choking or out of breath, restless sleep cycles, early morning headaches, daily fatigue, and difficulty falling or staying asleep. If a patient takes depression, blood pressure, or GERD medications, or is clinically overweight, those medication may also contribute to a sleep apnea disorder.
Untreated, sleep apnea can lead to or worsen the following conditions:
- Heart attacks
- Strokes
- High Blood Pressure
- Atrial fibrillation
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Depression
- Impotence
- Acid Reflux
- Coronary Artery Disease
Is Sleep Deprivation Harmful To My Health?
Sleep apnea can disrupt a patient’s deep sleep cycle, causing persistent sleep deprivation. Not only can this make a person feel tired and fatigued throughout the day, it can also lead to increased risk for high blood pressure, depression, headaches, ADHD symptoms, diabetes, stroke, heart failure, and decreased sex drive / erectile dysfunction in men.
Why Do I Snore?
Unless a patient is suffering from sinus or nasal congestion, snoring is a symptom of obstructed airways. A soft palate and collapsed tissues in the back of the throat can vibrate as air passes through. Common causes are large tonsils, sleeping position, alcohol consumption, excess weight around the neck, or sleeping pills and muscle relaxers. Snoring can also be a sign of sleep disorders, UARS (upper airway resistance syndrome) and OSA (obstructive sleep apnea). These disorders cause sleep deprivation and lead to increased headaches, migraines, heartburn, acid-reflux, and an increased risk of high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, heart attack, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and decreased sex drive / erectile dysfunction in men.
How Do I Stop Snoring?
At-home treatments for snoring include regular exercise, weight loss, and avoiding sleeping pills, alcohol, and sedative before going to bed. But, if these treatments fail to resolve a patient’s problem, they speak with their local sleep specialist to learn about treatment plans and possible apnea diagnosis
How Is Sleep Apnea Treated?
Sleep apnea is often treated through sleep hygiene regimens, such as getting moderate exercise or limiting caffeine, alcohol and food consumption late in the day. Breathe Right® strips and similar products can also ease sleep apnea along with CPAP machines or fitted oral appliances. Surgical options are also available depending on the patient. Maxillomandibular Advancement Surgery, or MMA surgery, tightens the soft palate and enlarges the upper airways by pulling the upper and lower jaws forward. ENT surgeons can perform soft palate surgery, or Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP). These treatments are recommended only if the throat or mouth has severe physical obstructions.
What Is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when a patient’s throat muscles relax and obstruct airflow, interrupting the natural breathing cycle.
What Is Central Sleep Apnea?
More uncommon than obstructive sleep apnea, this type of disorder is also more dangerous. Central sleep apnea is a condition in which the patient’s muscles do not receive the signals that monitor breathing movement.
What is CPAP Therapy?
CPAP, is also known as Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. Using a mask, the CPAP machine presses air gently through the nose and mouth and into the lungs. The consistent pressure allows the sleeping patient to take deep, uninterrupted breaths, without the tissues in the back of the throat collapsing. However, some patients react negatively to CPAP, since in some cases the machine can cause extreme discomfort. We offer snoring treatment alternatives for those who are CPAP-intolerant.
What is Oral Appliance Therapy?
Oral Appliance Therapy treats sleep apnea through fitted appliances that reposition the mouth to increase airflow. The most common appliance is a MRD or mandibular repositioning device. These move the jaw into a forward position, lifting the palate and increasing space located behind the tongue. But to fit each of our patients, Sleep Carolina offers a variety of appliances including: ResMed Narval CC™, TAP® 3, SUAD™, and SomnoDent® Flex.
