Sleep Disorders - Shelby Township

At The Gentle Dentist in Shelby Township, MI, we understand that restful, restorative sleep is essential for whole-person wellness — body, mind, and spirit. As part of our mission, we provide gentle, compassionate care to help patients struggling with sleep disorders like obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Our goal is to help you experience healing and restoration so you can thrive each day.

More than 50 million Americans suffer from chronic sleep disorders, including snoring and obstructive sleep apnea, but only about 15% are aware they have a condition. Excessive Daytime Sleepiness alone costs an estimated $150 billion annually in lost productivity and accidents, plus another $48 billion in medical costs related to motor vehicle crashes involving drowsy drivers. In fact, nearly 20% of serious car crash injuries are associated with drowsy driving, independent of alcohol effects.

Screening tests such as the Epworth Sleepiness Scale can help assess the risk of sleep apnea. If you have concerns about snoring or possible sleep apnea, we invite you to contact our office for a copy of this screening test.

A proper diagnosis of sleep apnea requires a sleep study. During a sleep study, the patient spends the night in a sleep lab — which is designed to feel like a comfortable bedroom — while machines monitor breathing, brainwaves, and muscle activity.

Learn more about sleep studies at the Sleep Foundation: https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-studies.

Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when throat tissues obstruct the airway during sleep. Breathing pauses lasting more than 10 seconds are known as episodes and are used to classify severity:

• Mild: 5-15 episodes per hour

• Moderate: 16-30 episodes per hour

• Severe: more than 30 episodes per hour

The more frequent the episodes, the greater the risk of serious health complications.

These sleep disturbances are directly or indirectly linked to:

• Daytime sleepiness, unrefreshing sleep, snoring, insomnia, headaches, short-term memory loss, decreased sex drive, and bed-wetting in adults

• High blood pressure from chronic adrenaline release during nighttime awakenings

• Increased risk of diabetes

• Heart attack due to chronic heart stress

• Stroke from increased cerebral pressure

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) due to negative pressure during obstructive episodes

• Weight gain and low energy

People at higher risk for obstructive sleep apnea include:

• Those with obesity (as excess tissue narrows the airway)

• Individuals with large neck sizes (males >17”, females >15”)

• Men (3:1 ratio compared to women)

• Postmenopausal women (3x higher risk than premenopausal)

• Older adults (ages 65+ are 2-3x more likely than ages 35-65)

• Those with small lower jaws (which restrict airway space)

Following a positive sleep apnea diagnosis, a sleep physician may recommend:

• Weight loss and exercise programs, especially when obesity is a primary factor; this may include bariatric surgery.

• CPAP therapy, the most common and effective treatment, which uses a mask to provide air pressure that keeps the airway open. Unfortunately, long-term compliance is low (about 40%) due to discomfort and difficulty tolerating the mask.

If CPAP is not well-tolerated, oral appliance therapy may be prescribed by the sleep physician. This custom-made dental device repositions the lower jaw to help keep the airway open during sleep. It is typically better tolerated than CPAP and has a compliance rate of over 60%, making it a preferred option for patients with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea.

This appliance should only be fabricated by a qualified dentist with expertise in jaw function and bite alignment. At The Gentle Dentist, we are honored to provide this care, ensuring every appliance is tailored for comfort, safety, and effectiveness.

Learn more about oral appliance therapy from the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine: https://www.aadsm.org/oral_appliance_therapy.php.

In some cases, surgery to enlarge the airway (such as uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, or UPPP) may be recommended. However, success rates are limited (approximately 30%), and some patients experience worsened symptoms following surgery.

At The Gentle Dentist, we see caring for patients with sleep disorders as an extension of our mission to care for the whole person. If you suffer from sleep apnea, excessive snoring, or unexplained daytime fatigue, we invite you to contact us for a consultation.

Our gentle, thoughtful approach is designed to help you achieve lasting relief, better sleep, and renewed health so you can live fully each day.