MANTON — Dr. Jennifer White of Brite White Dental is highlighting the critical health risks associated with untreated sleep apnea and the availability of dental-based treatment options. The practice is offering “airway dentistry” services, including home sleep study kits and oral appliances, to help patients manage breathing disorders.
Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when a person stops breathing while they are asleep. Dr. White noted that untreated sleep apnea can lead to heart issues, chronic body inflammation and mental health challenges such as anxiety and depression. The clinic operates under the motto that “whole body health starts with your mouth.”
Dr. White uses the term “airway dentistry” to describe a specialized approach to patient care. “Airway dentistry has more to do with the fact that as a dentist and airway dentist, I am going to be more aware of the airway while I am doing my treatment planning,” White said. She noted that this perspective allows the clinic to look beyond traditional dental needs to address the root causes of sleep issues.
The clinic recently treated a 21-year-old patient who traveled more than an hour for a consultation. Despite appearing physically fit, the patient had been diagnosed with severe sleep apnea and appeared unhealthy. After performing a CT scan, White found the patient’s airway was severely restricted. “His only option to get to the root cause of his sleep apnea is going to be double jaw surgery,” White said. The patient had previously undergone orthodontics twice and was considering nasal surgeries before seeking help at the dental practice.
Dr. White emphasized the importance of proper jaw development in children to prevent long-term breathing problems. She said her mission is to ensure children’s jaws are developing correctly and that their airways are “being minded” during orthodontic treatment. Failure to address these developmental needs can lead to sleep apnea or upper airway resistance syndrome in adulthood.
Upper airway resistance syndrome affects many people who may not realize they have a sleep disorder. While these individuals do not fully obstruct their breathing at night, their sleep is disturbed enough to prevent them from reaching REM sleep. Dr. White explained that REM sleep is essential for the body to heal properly. Left unaddressed, this condition can eventually progress into mild, moderate or severe sleep apnea.
To help patients bypass long wait times at traditional sleep clinics, Brite White Dental offers home sleep study kits. “If you come in for a sleep consult, you could leave that day with a home sleep study kit for usually less than what your copay would be with your medical doctor,” White said. These studies are read by certified sleep physicians and the results are used to determine if a patient needs a CPAP machine, surgery or an oral appliance.
The practice uses an intraoral scanner to create molds for oral appliances, which eliminates the need for traditional impressions. Dr. White specifically recommended the Panthera appliance because it is lightweight and designed to stay out of the tongue space. The clinic also offers myofunctional therapy and can bill medical insurance for oral appliances, particularly for patients with moderate to severe sleep apnea who have already tried using a CPAP.
Patients who have used the oral appliances reported that the devices effectively stopped their snoring and improved their overall sleep quality. One patient noted that the fitting process was simple and involved a mold that became solid to create the final appliance. She said the device worked perfectly and helped her feel more rested.
Brite White Dental is currently accepting new patients for sleep studies and consultations.
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