Sleep

If you struggle with sleeping at night, you're not alone-
  • 74% of adults experience a sleeping problem a few nights per week or more
  • Approximately 42 million adults suffer from sleep disordered breathing
  • 1 in 5 adults has mild obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)
  • 1 in 15 adults has moderate to severe OSA; with an estimated 75% of severe cases remaining undiagnosed
  • Chronic sleep loss can lead to a 30-40% reduction in glucose metabolism and can actually shorten your life span
Given the prevalence of sleep disorders, it is no wonder we are seeing more and more patients of all ages proactively address their sleep concerns. At Epic Dentistry, we can facilitate an at-home sleep study as your first step in diagnosing and determining treatment. Dr. Caulfield will review and discuss your results along with treatment options such as night guards, splint therapy, or a mandibular advancement device such as Vivos®. Unlike a general dentist, Dr. Caulfield sees patients with sleep related concerns on a daily basis. He works collaboratively with other medical providers to ensure an integrated approach to treatment and offer you—the patient—the best possible outcome. 

A good night's sleep plays an important role in your physical health

- Average adult human need is 7 to 8 hours/night

- A newborn infant may require up to 16 hours/day

- Teenagers need 9+ hours

- Normal sleep latency: 10-20 minutes

- 50% light sleep and 50% deep sleep NREM/REM

Sleep disorders currently affect as many as 50 to 70 million US adults.

Sleep disorders impact oxygen levels which in turn affects your body's functioning. Over the short term, you may find that you don't have the energy to stay awake past dinner, enjoy your kid’s birthday parties, go for a bike ride, or function effectively during the work day. Your quality of life can be greatly diminished by issues with sleep quality. 


Over the long term, serious health problems can arise from untreated sleep apnea. These include stroke, high blood pressure, headaches, diabetes, depression, mood swings, heart failure, and ADHD

Signs you may want to get tested for sleep disorder:

- Loud or frequent snoring

- Silent pauses in breathing 

- Choking or gasping sounds

- Daytime sleepiness or fatigue

- Unrefreshing sleep

- Insomnia

- Morning headaches

- Nocturia (waking during the night to go to the bathroom)

- Difficulty concentrating

- Memory loss

- Decreased sexual desire

- Irritability


The most common symptom of sleep apnea is snoring. However, not everyone who snores has sleep apnea. Snoring is likely to be a sign of sleep apnea when it is followed by silent breathing pauses and choking or gasping sounds.

Common risk factors to be aware of:

- Excess weight—Your risk for sleep apnea is higher if you are overweight with a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or more or obese with a BMI of 30 or higher


- Large neck size— ±17 inch men, ±16 inch women, more soft tissue can block airway in sleep


- Demographic—sleep apnea is more common in men and at middle age; risk increases for women following menopause


- Hypertension—high blood pressure extremely common in people with sleep apnea


- Family history—higher risk if a family member has it; lifestyle and inherited traits such as obesity/physical activity/eating habits and physical features (recessed jaw, small maxilla) play a role

Your bedtime routine has a significant impact on your quality of sleep

- Keep a consistent sleep schedule; get up at same time every day (even weekends and vacation)

- Set a bedtime that is early enough for you to get at least 7 hours sleep

- Don’t go to bed unless you are sleepy

- If you don’t fall asleep after 20 minutes, get out of bed

- Establish a relaxing bedtime routine

- Use your bed only for sleep and sex

- Make your bedroom quiet and relaxing; keep the room at comfortable, cool temperature

- Limit exposure to bright light in the evenings

- Turn off electronic devices at least 30 minutes before bedtime

- Don’t eat a large meal before bedtime; if you’re hungry eat a light, healthy snack

- Exercise regularly and maintain a healthy diet

- Avoid consuming caffeine in the late afternoon or evening

- Avoid consuming alcohol before bedtime

- Reduce your fluid intake before bedtime

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