Do you think you have sleep apnea?

Signs and Symptoms

Is the CPAP living under your bed or in the back of the closet?

Have tried CPAP therapy but just cannot tolerate the machine, the noise, the mask, or the inconvenience of traveling with the CPAP machine?

Are you tired all the time?

While you are sleeping, it is best to breath through your nose. Your nose will moisten and warm the air to body temperature. Do you know if you stop taking breaths for 10 seconds or longer? Do you awaken suddenly with a ‘start’? This is sleep apnea.

Do you snore or wake up frequently at night?

Snoring is a very strong sign that you may have sleep apnea. It doesn’t mean that you definitely have it, but it is a very good indicator. On the other hand, you may have sleep apnea even if you don’t snore.

Can children have sleep apnea?

Yes, it is not uncommon for children to have sleep apnea. Treatments include early braces to help permanent teeth erupt in the proper position as well as the removal of tonsils.

Do you have TMJ?

There is a strong relationship between sleep apnea and TMJ. Often, we are able to relieve and eliminate TMJ problems by treating the sleep apnea.

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Did you know there is an alternative to the CPAP therapy?

You may know people with sleep apnea and you know about the sleep studies, the CPAP machine and you want no part of it. Well, good news. Today, with recent advances, sleep studies can be done from the comfort of your own home and if you are diagnosed with mild or moderate sleep apnea, FDA registered oral appliances are available and may be used to treat sleep apnea when administered by a qualified dentist trained in Dental Sleep Medicine.

What are Oral Appliances and how do they work?

Oral appliances are very much like wearing a night guard or orthodontic retainer. Some describe them as being like an athletic mouthguard. The bottom line is that they are comfortable and relatively non-intrusive. There are currently over 200 FDA approved appliances. Dr. Levy uses about a dozen of them and chooses the right one for you based on a number of factors such as degree of snoring, mouth size, etc. While the principle behind these appliances is not new, they all do the same thing: move the lower jaw forward so as to open the airway and unblock your windpipe. Multiple studies in medical journals have shown that oral appliances are better tolerated by patients than CPAP therapy and they have a far better compliance rate.

If you feel you or someone you love may suffer from sleep apnea, or you experience any of the symptoms mentioned above, please contact Dr. Levy for a screening consultation.

Meet Dr. Mark Levy, Sleep Apnea Specialist

Dr. Mark Levy has used oral appliance therapy to treat sleep disordered breathing since 2005 in the Central Ohio area. He has treated thousands of cases, ranging from the simplest to the most complex and provides oral appliances as an alternative to or in combination therapy with CPAP.

As a member of both the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine and the Academy of Clinical Sleep Disorders Disciplines, Dr. Levy has completed hundreds of hours of continuing education, assuring you an exceptional level of education, training, and experience in the use of oral appliances.

Dr. Levy also lectured to healthcare providers in Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia and has plans to continue to teach abroad, bringing awareness of obstructive sleep apnea to the Russian medical community.

Dr. Mark Levy, DDS - Sleep Better Columbus

Our Sleep Apnea Solution is Simple… and it works!

Get a professional, long-lasting solution to sleep apnea and snoring. This is a simple, comfortable solution that will have you sleeping better quickly.

1. Fill out the sleep apnea form.

Once we receive your completed form, we will get in touch with your insurance company so we can check your coverage and estimate your out-of-pocket costs.

3. Pick up your oral appliance

Your oral appliance is custom made for you and lab time can take up to 3 weeks.

2. Consult with Dr. Levy

During your visit, you will have the opportunity to meet Dr. Levy and ask any questions you may have. His vast experience in this field will be apparent. If deemed appropriate, records will be taken at this visit.

4. Get the best sleep of your life!

Begin to sleep better. Once you start wearing your device every night, you will begin to get the best sleep of your life.

Learn More by Watching these Sleep Apnea videos

We provide an effective, safe, and simple solution that reduces symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea comfortably, allowing better sleep and decreased health risks. Get better rest for you or your family.

Click to watch videos from Dr. Levy

Click to watch patient testimonial videos

Click to watch other videos about sleep

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Oral Appliances?

In 2006, The American Academy of Sleep Medicine released a position paper stating that oral appliances are a comparable treatment to CPAP for mild and moderate obstructive sleep apnea and a viable replacement therapy for individuals with severe apnea who cannot tolerate CPAP. So, what does this mean to you? If you are unable to wear CPAP for any reason, you now have an alternative therapy you can live with and tolerate.

Why do we snore?

Snoring is usually caused by loose or excessive tissue at the back of the throat which collapses into the airway during sleep. This tissue can vibrate as you breathe, causing the annoying and disruptive noise we all know too well.

How do I safely clean my Oral Appliance?

Sleep is a vital component of every person’s health and well-being, especially for sleep apnea patients using an oral device to get adequate sleep. We recently received questions from patients about the safeguards one can take to properly disinfect their device and how to avoid potential misuse that could damage the device. To help clarify how to use the device properly and prevent damage to the device we have put together this resource so users can wear their device every night with confidence.

Is it normal for children to snore?

No. Snoring is not normal for children. They should be evaluated to determine the cause of snoring and its consequences for your child. There are several ways to correct this condition when it is deemed necessary.

Do men snore more than women?

Snoring and apnea are more frequent in men than in women until women near menopause. Hormonal changes and weight gain can result in increased snoring and incidences of sleep apnea.

What about snoring that keeps the whole house awake?

Snoring that is very loud and can be heard throughout the house is usually the first sign that there may be something else going on. And snoring like this is not just unhealthy for the snorer- inadequate sleep for the bed partner can lead to exhaustion and potential other ill effects. Many patients of Dr. Levy’s report sleeping in separate bedrooms. As a matter of fact, one of the new trends in custom built homes is the inclusion of 2 master bedrooms. Sad, but true. Very often, someone who snores does not realize or believe that they do so. Even when others complain about it, the snorer may still say “not me”. They also say things like “I can’t hear it so it not a problem”. It is important for both sides to remember that snorers cannot help the fact that they snore, but they should be willing to treat it so that the whole family can get a good night’s sleep.

My bed partner stops breathing and gasps for air at night. What is this?

Probably obstructive sleep apnea. It should be noted that this disease is very serious and has numerous health implications. It is imperative that the partner have a sleep study to determine if it is obstructive sleep apnea and be prescribed the appropriate therapy.

So exactly what is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

Sleep Apnea is a condition in which a person stops breathing many times throughout the night, sometimes for dangerously long periods of time. It is estimated that up to 10% of middle-aged men and women may suffer from sleep apnea. With sleep apnea, the airway becomes obstructed, usually by the back of the tongue. With the airway obstructed, a person does not breathe. Obviously, breathing is essential to life and our well being. Every time breathing stops, it cause dangerous low levels of oxygen in the body and heart rate and blood pressure increase. Sometimes this happens up to 80-120 times per hour. Imagine the toll it takes on your body. The gasping you hear at night is the person’s attempt to awaken and start to breathe again. The extreme tiredness is due to the constant awakening to catch a breath, never allowing them to get the deep restful sleep needed by the body.

Is Obstructive Sleep Apnea really that dangerous?

Absolutely! Sleep apnea is linked to heart disease, strokes, high blood pressure, impotence, depression and night time urination. One of the most significant symptoms is excessive daytime sleepiness. Take the Epworth Sleepiness Test on this site to see how you score. It is estimated that excessive sleepiness can be as dangerous as drunk driving. Yet no one knows who is on the road suffering from sleep apnea and how many accidents they are causing. One more fact- it is estimated that untreated severe sleep apnea will take 10 years off of your life. Serious indeed!

I hear the CPAP therapy is the best treatment for sleep apnea. Why should I look at oral appliances?

CPAP has been around a long time for treating obstructive sleep apnea. In many cases, it works well. However, with long term compliance rates hovering at about 25%, there are a lot of diagnosed patients who are left untreated. In addition to patients who simply refuse to wear CPAPs, the acceptable compliance rate for CPAP therapy is 4 hours per night, 5 night per week. That’s a total of only 20 hours of sleep per week! Getting a good night’s sleep is so important to our overall health and if you are only getting 20 hours of restful sleep per week, you are walking around exhausted. Many of Dr. Levy’s patients have also had the surgery called UPPP which has limited usefulness with many patients. Long term success rates are just hovering at around 40% with many patients having relapses a year or two after surgery. Medical research has shown that oral appliance therapy is very effective for mild and moderate sleep apnea, and very helpful for CPAP intolerant patients who are considered severe cases.

I have seen snoring appliances on TV. Do they work? Why should I see a dentist if I can buy it on the internet?

There are no ‘boil and bite’ (over the counter) mouthpieces that are FDA approved to treat sleep apnea. While they may reduce snoring for a short while initially, they tend to cause jaw and teeth pain as well as TMJ.

Are all dentists trained in this form of treatment?

No. When selecting a dentist to treat you with an oral appliance, make certain that the dentist has the training, experience and knowledge necessary to treat your problem. Always ask the dentist about their credentials. Where have they trained? How long have they been doing this? How many patients have they treated?

I am overweight. Does this have an impact on snoring or sleep apnea?

Weight has a direct impact on both. The severity of sleep disordered breathing can change with weight gains and losses. However, sometimes it is all about anatomy. Dr. Levy has treated thin, athletic people who also suffer from sleep apnea.

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Kicking the Bear Out of the Bedroom

Snoring & Sleep Apnea, the Not-So-Silent Killers by Steve Wick