Sleep Solutions

Imagine this:

  • you wake up feeling fantastic EVERY DAY!
  • you have more energy, more vitality, than you’ve had in years!
  • you AND your spouse get a great night’s sleep!
  • you’re not sleepy all of the time, and you feel like tackling those jobs that you never seemed to have the energy to do before!
  • you enjoy life again!

Dr. Waite understands both the physical and emotional consequences a sleeping disorder plays in your life and he can help you find a solution that is comfortable and effective, but most importantly helping you feel rested.

Our sleep solutions involve a medical and sleep history interview, physical examination, a sleep evaluation and an oral dental appliance fitting.

Medical and Sleep History

To help determine sleep apnea, Dr. Waite will need answers to a number of questions, including the following:

  • Is the patient taking any medication?
  • How many periods of sleepiness are there each day and when do they occur?
  • How restful is sleep?
  • Do headaches occur regularly in the morning?
  • Does the patient have any problems with mental or emotional functioning?
  • Does the patient suffer from heartburn?
  • What is the normal sleeping position (back, side, or stomach)?
  • If there is a sleeping partner, does he or she complain about the patient’s snoring or grasping for breathing? (Many times it is useful to interview the bed partner.)

Sleep Evaluation – Polysomnography

Overnight polysomnography involves many measurements and its typically performed in a sleep center.

The patient arrives about two hours before bedtime without having made any changes in daily habits. Polysomnography electronically monitors the patients as he or she passes, or fails to pass, through the various sleep stages. Polysomnography tracks the following:

  • Brain waves
  • Body movements
  • Breathing
  • Heartbeats and heart rhythms
  • Eye movements

Physical Examination

To diagnose sleep apnea, Dr. Waite will check for physical indications of sleep apnea, including the following:

  • Abnormalities in the soft palate or upper airways, including enlarged tonsils.
  • Upper body obesity
  • A wide neck measurement
      One study reported that by taking measurement of body mass, neck circumference, and four areas inside the mouth, we’re able to accurately diagnose 98% of people with suspected sleep apnea.

Oral Dental Appliance Fitting

Several different dental appliances or treatments are available and are proving to be very valuable treatments for snoring and sleep apnea. In fact, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, in it’s most recently published recommendations, indicated that oral appliances are an excellent first time treatment option for people with snoring, mild to moderate sleep apnea, and patients with severe apnea that cannot tolerate CPAP.
Dental appliances are small devices that are worn over the teeth, much like an athletic mouth guard. The appliance gently moves the lower jaw slightly forward, opening your airway and improving nighttime breathing.

These dental appliances have provided relief for thousands of snoring and sleep apnea patients, and their small size, comfort, and easy maintenance make them the first choice for many patients suffering from mild to moderate sleep apnea.

They can also be an excellent option for patients who travel frequently or in combination with CPAP for patients with severe sleep apnea.

Our dental appliances are:

      • Compact – Small enough to fit in your pocket, no extra luggage for traveling
      • Comfortable – Our appliances are custom made for each individual patient. There are no external masks or hoses, and you can sleep in any position
      • Effective – Our patients often report sleeping better and feeling refreshed upon waking after just ONE night.

Our sleep solutions have proven effective for many of your neighbors in the Colorado Springs area. We pride ourselves with the ability in making a good night’s sleep possible once again for both you and your bed partner. Call Dr. Waite today for an appointment. You’ll sleep better knowing you did.

Our Office

6260 Woodmen Park View Suite 150
Colorado Springs, CO 80923
719-282-3400

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