Dental Sleep Medicine: Using Oral Appliance Therapy to Treat Sleep Disorder Problems

Dr. Francisco Marcano is a Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine in Sarasota, Florida. What does this mean for you? This means that he is one of the very few dentists who is certified to treat sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) conditions with oral appliance therapy. So, if you are battling snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), Sarasota Center for General Dentistry can help restore your optimal sleep and health.

Understanding sleep-related disorders

Healthy sleep is important to your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Unfortunately, if you have sleep disorders, you may not get the quality sleep you deserve despite a whole night’s sleep. Inadequate sleep doesn’t merely disrupt your night—it frequently leads to symptoms such as fatigue, headaches, and difficulty concentrating, impacting the quality of your entire day. When this happens day after day, it impairs your quality of life and overall health.

Sleep medicine often focuses on the following sleep disorders.

Snoring: This common sleep-related breathing disorder is characterized by noisy breathing during sleep as air vibrates past the relaxed tissues in the throat. Most causes of snoring, including nasal congestion, allergies, or poor sleeping position, can be related to Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB).
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA): Although loud snoring is a classic symptom of snoring, OSA is more than that. This sleep disorder leads to stoppages of breathing when sleeping when the soft tissues in the throat collapse/relax. Often, this disrupts your sleep and oxygen supply, putting you at risk of systematic conditions like cardiovascular complications, stroke, diabetes, etc.
Sleep bruxism: Sleep bruxers grind and clench their teeth involuntarily when sleeping. Sleep bruxism leads to numerous unpleasant symptoms, including headaches, jaw pain, and tooth damage.

Treating sleep disorders with oral appliance therapy (OAT)

Dr. Francisco Marcano has over 1000 hours in special training on how to treat sleep disorders with OAT, which uses custom-fitted dental devices. He may recommend the following dental appliances depending on your sleep disorder condition.

Mandibular repositioning device (MRD): This device repositions the lower jaw to create space in the airway. Sufficient space in the airway promotes healthy breathing when sleeping, reducing the frequency of apneic episodes.
Tongue repositioning device (TRD): This device treats snoring and OSA by gently holding the tongue forward during sleep, preventing it from collapsing and obstructing the airway.
Bruxism orthotic: This intraoral device prevents the upper and lower teeth from meeting (occluding), reducing the effects of teeth grinding.

A sleep dentist near me

Ready to improve your sleep and overall health? Schedule a consultation with our dental sleep medicine specialist, Dr. Francisoc Marcano. Call (941) 900-3555 to take the first step towards a brighter, more energized tomorrow!

Dr. Francisco Marcano

Dr. Francisco Marcano and his dedicated team at Sarasota Center for General Dentistry are devoted to delivering exceptional dental care to Sarasota, Manatee, and neighboring communities, ensuring healthy smiles and overall well-being.

Dr. Marcano earned his DMD from the University of Puerto Rico School of Dentistry and is an esteemed graduate of the Hornbrook Group, renowned worldwide for its clinical excellence in cosmetic dentistry. He is affiliated with prominent organizations, including the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, American Dental Association, Florida Dental Association, West Coast Dental Association, Academy of GP Orthodontics, Mid-America Orthodontics Society, Light Force Orthodontics, International Association for Orthodontics, and Spear Education.

Recognized by his peers, Dr. Marcano serves on the Florida Board of Dentistry and Florida Board of Dental Examiners. Since 2012, he has been consistently honored as “Sarasota’s Top Dentist,” listed in the “Who’s Who Top Doctors Edition” since 2015, and recognized among “America’s Best Dentists” since 2012.

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