Better sleep, better life.
(for both of you)
Sleep Connecticut provides treatment to people seeking relief from snoring and sleep apnea. We provide oral appliance therapy, a minimally invasive alternative to CPAP.
Dr. Zachary Korwin as seen on:
What Our Patients Say About Us
★★★★★
Transformative Experience
Simply amazing! I am just starting my journey using a dental appliance instead of the CPAP for sleep apnea. Dr. Korwin and Jennifer are so knowledgeable, honest and straightforward. I researched several sleep apnea centers, both in Connecticut and New York, before I settled on Sleep Stratford. I am so grateful that I landed here as I am astounded by the results. I am only about a week in, and my snoring is down to a minimum and I am starting to feel “refreshed” upon waking up – something that I have not felt in years. I am so grateful to this outstanding team for their help in getting my situation under control and getting me on track to becoming healthy again.
★★★★★
Josephine Usiak
Great office
Very professional and knowledgeable. A pleasure to deal with!
★★★★★
Douglas Moss
Better sleep for both of us
Sleep Stratford at Brush and Floss has been an excellent ally in getting my snoring problem under control. Using an oral device has helped me sleep more soundly and helped my wife improve her sleep, too.
★★★★★
Cliff Schrock
Highly Recommend This Clinic
What a team! I transitioned from CPAP therapy to a sleep appliance, and Jennifer and Dr. Korwin patiently guided me through the process, monitoring and adjusting along the way, and maintaining communication with my pulmonologist. It didn’t take long to reach my optimal setup, and I now enjoy restful, unconfined sleep. I can’t thank them enough! The whole staff and office provide a pleasant, no-pressure experience. I highly recommend this practice!
★★★★★
Stacey Severn
What is Sleep Apnea and Dental Sleep Apnea Treatment?
Obstructive sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder that occurs when a person’s breathing is interrupted during sleep 1. People with untreated sleep apnea stop breathing many times during sleep, sometimes hundreds of times during the night 1.
Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the muscles in the throat over-relax during sleep, allowing gravity to pull the tongue and soft tissues—such as the tonsils or soft palate—backward. When sleeping on your back, these tissues can slide against the back of the throat and physically seal off the airway. This blockage stops the flow of oxygen, forcing the brain to trigger a brief awakening to restore normal breathing.
Obstructive apneas often have a sound associated with them, like snoring. Snoring is the turbulence of the air trying to enter and exit the very narrow, obstructed passageway.
Sometimes the lack of breathing is from your brain getting confused and telling your body you have enough oxygen even though you don’t. This is called central apnea.
It’s important to have a sleep doctor perform and evaluate a sleep study so the cause of the apnea is diagnosed correctly. There are different treatments for central apneas and obstructive apneas.
The gold standard for treating obstructive sleep apnea is the CPAP or continuous positive airway pressure machine.
If you can’t tolerate a CPAP machine, due to claustrophobia, or just plain discomfort, you may want to consider Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT).
Oral appliance therapy is an effective treatment option for snoring and OSA 12.
People who are happy with their CPAP, and those who use oral appliance therapy as an alternative, report:
- improved sleep quality
- increased energy
- improved overall health
- improved relationships
Oral appliance therapy uses a custom made device, pictured below, which is designed to fit over your teeth while you sleep and support your jaw in a forward position to keep your airway open.
There are many designs for an oral appliance:
An EMA appliance:
A Herbst-style appliance:
Dorsal fin-style appliance:
Panthera digital sleep apnea appliance:
All of the designs function in a similar way. They all work by holding your lower jaw in a forward position and preventing gravity from pulling it backwards while you sleep, keeping your airway open all night.
Because they prevent your airway from being obstructed, they are very effective at treating snoring.
You may be wondering: “How far does my jaw have to be pulled out for this to work?”
The difference between an open airway and a closed airway in most people is about 0.5mm, about half the size of a poppy seed.
At Sleep Connecticut we take a number of measurements to try to determine the best position to start with. From there, we work with you to move the device forward and backward to find the best position.
Oral appliance therapy is a balancing act between opening your airway enough that we prevent obstruction, but not pulling your jaw out so far that it causes pain. It is a process that takes a few weeks to get right. We always go slowly and conservatively. The good news is that we can accomplish these steps remotely.
No design is perfect for every patient.
At Sleep Stratford we tend to use the Panthera D-SAD for a number of reasons:
- They are made out of medical nylon and are incredibly strong
- They are easy for you to adjust yourself so you don’t have to come into the office repeatedly
- They are 3D printed, so if they are lost or eaten by your dog, it is easy to print out another one
- They do not use any metal
- They tend to be more comfortable because the ‘connecting bars’ don’t stick out very far to the side as compared to other devices
Oral appliance therapy is an effective, non-invasive treatment option that can help reduce or eliminate snoring, improve breathing, and increase oxygen levels while you sleep. By improving sleep quality, oral appliance therapy can help you feel more rested and energized throughout the day. It can also help reduce the risk of serious health problems such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke by improving breathing and oxygen levels.
Feel free to give us a call for a complimentary consultation to discuss oral appliance therapy in more detail and see how we can help you!
1: American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine
2: Cleveland Clinic
We accept most major medical insurance plans, including Medicare and Husky.
Many patients have no co-pay.
We always review your benefits and let you know your out-of-pocket costs prior to starting treatment.
Alternative to CPAP
An estimated 50% of sleep apnea patients don’t use their CPAP. If you’re one of them, a custom-fit oral appliance may be an effective option.
Compliant with DOT and FAA
DOT-Compliant alternative to CPAP with compliance tracking.
Sleep Affects Relationships
3 out of 5 people with untreated sleep problems report problems in relationships.
Quiet and portable
Oral appliance therapy is easy to wear, quiet, portable, convenient and comfortable.
Non-invasive
Oral appliance therapy requires no surgery or implants.
Use for travel and CPAP at home
If CPAP works well for you but you travel, you can have your CPAP at home and an oral appliance for the road.
Compliant with dot and FAA
If you’ve been diagnosed with sleep apnea during a DOT or FAA physical, you have options besides CPAP.
If you have sleep apnea, you’ll be required to prove that you are complying with your sleep apnea treatment.
Typically, 30 days of proven compliance is necessary to maintain a CDL.
We can put a compliance chip inside your oral appliance that shows that you are using it for the required amount of time.
Oral appliances are much more convenient than CPAP if you have to spend the night away from home.
Call us today to schedule a free consultation to learn if you are a candidate for oral appliance therapy:
Transform Your Sleep with Expert Care in Connecticut
Discover effective solutions for sleep apnea and improve your quality of life today. We’re here to help you breathe easier at night.
Take the first step towards restful nights and healthier days.