Sleep Apnea

Let us help you sleep better, breathe easier, and live well.

At Oral Medicine of Wisconsin, we understand that restful sleep is critical to overall health, pain regulation, and quality of life. For patients living with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)—a serious condition where breathing repeatedly stops during sleep—dental solutions can provide lasting relief.

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WHAT IS OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA?

Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the muscles at the back of the throat relax excessively, causing the airway to narrow or close during sleep. This leads to snoring, gasping, disrupted sleep, and oxygen deprivation. If left untreated, OSA increases the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, depression, and chronic orofacial pain.

How Is Sleep Apnea Diagnosed?

Diagnosis of sleep apnea is usually done by a board-certified sleep specialist who can be a pulmonologist, an otolaryngologist, a neurologist or other medical specialist. A sleep specialist will start with a comprehensive medical and sleep history and perform either a Home Sleep Apnea Testing (HSAT) or In-Lab Polysomnography (PSG). Results of an HSAT or PSG determine the Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI), which classifies the severity of the condition and guides treatment decisions.

If you have any of the common symptoms of sleep apnea such as loud snoring, choking, gasping at night, daytime sleepiness, morning headaches and difficulty concentrating, you want to get checked for sleep apnea. If you do not have a diagnosis of sleep apnea yet we can guide you how to get tested for sleep apnea.

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Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT)

For many patients with mild to moderate OSA, or those intolerant to CPAP machines, we offer custom-fabricated oral appliances, or Mandibular Advancement Devices (MAD) that reposition the lower jaw and tongue to keep the airway open during sleep. These devices are:

Comfortable and adjustable
Quiet and non-invasive
Easy to travel with
Often covered by medical insurance

We collaborate closely with sleep physicians and ENT specialists to ensure a comprehensive and coordinated treatment plan. A sleep study (in-lab or at-home) is typically required before starting therapy.

Why Choose Us for OSA Treatment?

As oral medicine specialists, we are uniquely qualified to:

Evaluate sleep apnea in the context of head, neck, jaw, and airway health
Manage coexisting conditions like bruxism, TMD, and facial pain
Design appliances that minimize strain on the TMJ and facial muscles
Monitor effectiveness using objective tools and patient-reported outcomes

Next Steps

If you snore, wake up tired, or suffer from jaw or facial pain, you may be dealing with undiagnosed sleep apnea. At Oral Medicine of Wisconsin, we take a whole-person approach to sleep and airway health.