Sleep Apnea Treatment
Dr. Utterback is one of Northeast Ohio's only Diplomates of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine. By achieving this status, Dr. Utterback is respected by both dental and medical colleagues as a professional who provides the best care to patients suffering from sleep disordered breathing issues such as obstructive sleep apnea and primary snoring. He gladly accepts referrals from physicians and dentists who understand the role that Diplomates such as himself have when a patient has been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea or primary snoring by their physician. Oral Appliance Therapy is now recognized as a primary treatment option by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine for patients diagnosed with mild to moderate sleep apnea or for those who can't tolerate CPAP therapy.
Dr. Utterback works closely with individuals who struggle with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), daytime drowsiness and nighttime snoring. These issues can have detrimental effects on one’s life and increase the risk for cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes, and high blood pressure, just to name a few. Unfortunately, sleep disordered breathing is one of the most underdiagnosed diseases in the United States. It is said that 85% of cases present are not even diagnosed. At our practice, we work closely with a patient’s physicians (both primary and sleep) and their general dentist to work as a team to improve the health of the patient.
Our treatment involves fitting our patients with a custom designed, FDA approved, intra-oral appliance that repositions the lower jaw in a way that allows for undisrupted breathing and more effective sleep. Dr. Utterback feels strongly that each patient is unique in terms of treatment goals as well as the presentation of teeth that will support the oral appliance; therefore, he does not use the same type of appliance for every patient. We place great attention and detail on the adjustment of the appliance specific to your needs, and have developed protocol designed to maximize results and minimize side effects of Oral Appliance Therapy.
Left untreated, sleep apnea is literally stealing years of life away from you one night at a time. We invite you to bring your questions, concerns, and treatment goals to us. Whether you decide on surgery, CPAP, or oral appliance therapy, taking action now to address this disease is very important.
Please call our Canton office at (330) 479-0072 to set up a complimentary consultation.