Searching for a Sleep Apnea Dentist in Lubbock TX?

You’ve come to the right place. These are the next steps you should take…

Medical Diagnosis, Screening & Exam: Treating OSA with an oral appliance is a collaborative effort between physician and dentist.  Once diagnosed with OSA Dr. Beard Sleep Apnea Dentist in Lubbock TX works with your board certified sleep physician to determine if an oral appliance is the best treatment method for you. If it is determined that you are a good candidate for oral appliance therapy, your initial visit with Dr. Beard and our team will include a thorough dental exam, TMJ, and airway assessment, imaging, and consultation based on Dr. Beard’s findings. We will discuss the benefits and possible side effects of treatment with an oral appliance.

**Dentists work with doctors to treat your sleep-disordered breathing, but they can’t diagnose it. It’s important to emphasize this fact: your sleep medicine dentist can screen for and treat sleep apnea, UARS and snoring, but they can’t diagnose a sleep condition. A sleep apnea diagnosis needs to be made by a sleep medicine specialist (a physician).

Radiology: This office is equipped with state-of-the-art imaging systems that can help the doctors visualize the airway, the sinuses, and jaws with the lowest dosage radiation available in medicine today. All results are shared with the patient’s physician and any other interested medical provider.

Every new patient at Renew Sleep gets a Cone Beam CT scan of their jaw and their bite. This can help us identify other areas of airway restriction, such as a deviated septum, or areas of concern, such as jaw joint changes. We are able to clearly visualize the patient’s airway anatomy and vulnerable areas of the upper airway. This is a powerful tool for the treatment decision.  A constricted airway could put the patient at risk of having a sleep disordered breathing.

Impressions & Digital Scans: Digitally scanned impressions and bite position records will be taken. This information is sent off to a certified dental laboratory to make your custom fit FDA approved dental sleep appliance.

Fittings & Adjustment: Once your appliance is received from the laboratory we will ensure your device fits properly and review care, maintenance, and warranty associated with your oral appliance. We may need to adjust the appliance over a few appointments to make sure you have the best fitting and functioning device possible.

Re-evaluation & Check-up: Once your symptoms improve and you’re wearing your appliance comfortably, Dr. Beard will refer you back to your physician for re-evaluation of your OSA. This will ensure that your OSA is being treated properly with your oral sleep appliance. We will also follow up with you once a year for an evaluation of appliance fit and function.

Cost: Oral Sleep Appliances are considered a Durable Medical Equipment (DME) and therefore may be covered by your medical insurance. Oral Sleep Appliances are not usually a covered procedure through dental insurance. We will work with your medical insurance to file a claim on your behalf.

We are your Sleep Apnea Dentist in Lubbock TX. Contact us and book an appointment with Dr. Beard, DDS, FAGD today. We look forward to helping you re-gain your ability to sleep normally.