Sleep Apnea is characterized by pauses in breathing (hypopneas) or cessations of breathing (apneas) during sleep due to a blocked airway. How does this happen? During sleep muscle tone decreases and our muscles "go slack," i.e. the jaw muscles relax and the lower jaw falls back. In this position, the airway is blocked by the epiglottis and/or the tongue settling in the back of throat.

Upper airway Resistance Syndrome (UARS) is characterized by repeated arousals during sleep because of resistance in the upper airway. UARS commonly causes excessive daytime sleepiness and fatigue. Snoring may be present, but is not the only symptom of UARS.

How do I find out if I have Sleep Apnea?

At Vondrak Dental, we SCREEN patients concerned they may have Sleep Apnea using state of the art home sleep study equipment. As you will see pictured below, this device fits on your wrist and can easily be worn sleeping in your own home, in your own bed. As a board certified dentist in treating Sleep Apnea with Sleep Appliances, Dr. Stephanie Vondrak will walk you through the process of wearing the home sleep equipment to measure your quality of sleep and gather data that will help your physician in diagnosing Sleep Apnea. Once you are screened, Dr. Vondrak will work closely with your physician or help you find a qualified MD to diagnose your sleeping disorder and the severity of your sleep problem. With this information, Dr. Vondrak and your physician will determine if a sleep appliance is right for you.

You can’t get healthier and feel better without knowing why your sleep is a problem! 
Dr. Stephanie Vondrak will meet with you, one-on-one. She will get to know you and how she can help you feel better.

Snoring is the sound of vibrating respiratory structures due to obstructed air movement during breathing while sleeping. Snoring can be disruptive to your sleep and the sleep of your bed partner.

Dental sleep appliances such as the Moses appliance can treat all of the above: Sleep Apnea, UARS and/or Snoring. Pictures of recommended sleep appliances are shown below.

Sleep appliances are recommended for individuals who are CPAP intolerant, refuse to wear a CPAP, and/or have mild to moderate Sleep Apnea. For more information on Sleep Appliances to treat your specific needs, contact Vondrak Dental for a sleep centered consultation. Dr. Stephanie Vondrak and Dr. Ashley Rainbolt will spend one on one time with you to determine the best most effective course of treatment

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