Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome

Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome (UARS) is caused when soft tissues in the throat relax, reducing the size of the airway and increasing the effort required for breathing. These are exactly the same conditions that cause OSA. While the symptoms and the condition are not as severe, UARS is still a serious medical condition, and left untreated can progress to OSA.

Common symptoms of UARS:

  • Chronic insomnia

  • Daytime sleepiness

  • Fatigue

  • Frequent awakenings

  • Low blood pressure

  • Unrefreshing sleep

UARS restricts airflow during sleep like OSA, but the level of resistance is lower than what is required for a diagnosis of Obstructive Sleep Apnea. UARS can cause awakenings and interrupt the sleep cycle, leading to many of the same symptoms as OSA.

Oral Appliance Therapy

Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT) uses a custom fitted dental appliance, similar to a retainer, to ensure unrestricted airflow during sleep. The device positions the lower jaw forward, which moves the base of the tongue slightly to ensure the airway remains open during sleep. The appliance fits in the palm of your hand, uses no power and has no hoses or pumps.​ Not all cases of UARS qualify for treatment with an oral appliance. Patients seeking an alternative to CPAP should consult with a qualified physician to determine if oral appliance therapy is appropriate for their case.

 
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Treatment

  • Screening and home sleep test schedule on first visit

  • Home sleep test results are reviewed by a board-certified sleep physician who makes a diagnosis and therapy suggestion

  • Delivery of custom-made oral appliance

  • Easy follow-up maintenance once or twice a year

Do not mistake OAT with a drugstore snoreguard, which is not FDA cleared for treating OSA. Attempting to treat OSA with an unapproved device and not under the care of a trained professional could exacerbate the condition leading to potentially serious complications.​

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DreamSleep Certified

Our office has been DreamSleep Certified for treating Obstructive Sleep Apnea. DreamSleep is a national network of Dentists and Physicians working together to raise awareness and treat Obstructive Sleep Apnea. 

DreamSleep Certification means every member of our sleep team has received intensive training on sleep medicine, oral appliance therapy and collaboration with physicians for testing and diagnosis. 

All DreamSleep providers:

  • Are required to achieve accreditation in the fundamentals of dental sleep medicine and oral appliance therapy for sleep-related breathing disorders

  • Refer patients at risk to qualified physicians for diagnosis and prescription of an appropriate therapy

  • Use objective data to verify the efficacy of oral appliance therapy as permitted within their scope of practice and in accordance with their state dental practice acts

  • Refer patients back to physicians for confirmation of treatment efficacy after fitting and titration of an oral appliance

  • Provide timely, appropriate and ongoing follow-up care to manage dental-related side effects of oral appliance therapy

We believe that close teamwork with physicians is essential for successful management of sleep-related breathing disorders using oral appliance therapy.

How it works:

  1. Schedule a screening at our office by filling out the form on the right

  2. If the screening indicates you are at risk for OSA, we will arrange a Home Sleep Test

  3. Sleep in your own bed while the device monitors your sleep

  4. Results from the test are downloaded and sent to a board-certified Sleep Physician for review and diagnosis

  5. If the physician recommends Oral Appliance Therapy, we will take impressions of your teeth and create a custom device for you

  6. After the device is made, it may require adjustments to ensure optimal airflow

  7. A follow up home sleep test is used to verify the device is working as intended

OSA is a medical condition, which means that it is covered under medical insurance, not dental insurance even though treatment is delivered by a dentist. As a courtesy, we will verify and file your claim with your medical insurance carrier; however, verification is only an explanation of benefits based upon information that we received from your insurance carrier. It is not a guarantee of payment. Please contact your insurance carrier directly to confirm your individual benefits for Oral Appliance Therapy.