Sleep Apnea Treatments

If you or someone you love snores loudly, wakes frequently during the night, or feels exhausted no matter how many hours of sleep you get, sleep apnea may be the culprit. At Creating Beautiful Smiles in Racine, WI, we understand how much a good night's sleep affects every part of your life, and we are here to offer a comfortable, effective solution that many patients find far easier to live with than a CPAP machine.

Sleep apnea is a condition in which the airway becomes partially or fully blocked during sleep, causing breathing to repeatedly pause and resume throughout the night. The most common type, obstructive sleep apnea, occurs when the soft tissues at the back of the throat collapse and block the airway. This disrupts the natural sleep cycle and can contribute to a range of serious health concerns over time, including high blood pressure, heart disease, and daytime cognitive impairment.

Our approach to sleep apnea treatment centers on custom oral appliance therapy. These small, comfortable devices are worn during sleep and gently reposition the jaw to keep the airway open. Many patients find oral appliances far more comfortable and convenient than CPAP therapy, and they are an excellent option for mild to moderate sleep apnea or for patients who cannot tolerate CPAP. We will work closely with your physician to ensure you receive the most appropriate, comprehensive care for your needs.

Getting started with oral appliance therapy at Creating Beautiful Smiles is a straightforward process. After a consultation to evaluate your symptoms and review your sleep study results, your provider will take precise impressions or digital scans of your teeth to fabricate a custom-fit appliance designed specifically for your mouth.

Once your appliance is ready, your provider will walk you through exactly how to wear and care for it. Most patients adjust to their appliance within a few nights and quickly notice improvements in sleep quality and daytime energy. Follow-up appointments allow us to fine-tune the fit and positioning to ensure you are getting the most benefit from your therapy.

We encourage all patients using oral appliances to continue working with their physician and to have periodic sleep evaluations to monitor the effectiveness of their treatment. Our goal is to help you sleep soundly and wake up feeling rested, refreshed, and ready to enjoy your day. If you have questions about whether oral appliance therapy might be right for you, we warmly invite you to schedule a consultation with our team.