Welcome to Spokane Sleep Apnea Dentistry!

A regional snoring and sleep apnea treatment center 
for CPAP intolerant patients

As the only dentist in eastern WA / northern ID who has achieved Diplomate Certification by the American  Board of Dental Sleep Medicine, Dr. Groza provides expert, affordable dental appliance therapy, combination and adjunctive treatments for sleep apnea and snoring (the medically covered alternative for CPAP-intolerant patients).   We work closely with local sleep physicians, cardiologists, primary care providers and other medical specialists to deliver prompt, individualized sleep apnea treatments, objective treatment efficacy sleep studies and follow-up to the highest standards established by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. We are passionate about helping our patients regain the ability to sleep and breathe well, and consider it our mission to provide the latest research and resources to customize treatment according to patients' individual needs. We believe that educated patients make better choices for their health and lifestyle and we strive to provide FDA-approved, state of the art solutions with compassion and integrity to every patient seeking our help.

At a Glance

What We Do

• Free comprehensive sleep apnea evaluations, patient education, screening and local referrals for diagnostic sleep studies if needed (1 hr appointment)
• Custom oral devices for snoring and sleep apnea (typically covered at in-network level by your medical insurance plan, with no or minimal OOP costs)
• CPAP Rescue and Combination Therapy for high-risk patients with complex needs (i.e. cardiovascular disease, stroke risk, severe apnea, etc)

What We Don’t Do

• General Dentistry (please see one of the many excellent providers in the area or call us if you need some recommendations.)

Dangers of Obstructive Sleep Apnea 

Obstructive sleep apnea, which is due to a collapse of the airway during sleep, is associated with significant oxygen desaturations, systemic inflammation and a disruption in the normal sleep architecture. As a result, most of the essential  restorative functions of sleep  are negatively affected - which means that many of the medical and lifestyle efforts that patients  undertake to control blood pressure, blood sugar, weight or mental performance  are undermined by the widespread  damage associated with sleep-disordered breathing and poor quality sleep.

If you think “it’s just snoring”… think again!

Approximately 80% of the 30 million adult Americans with obstructive sleep apnea are unware that they have this problem, or decline having a diagnostic sleep test even when prompted to do so by their physician or bed partner. The cost of denial (and failure to treat OSA) can be steep, affecting not only relationships and quality of life, but also overall health, job performance and career outcomes – as countless studies from the Harvard Division of Sleep Medicine and other research institutions have demonstrated over the past several decades. Untreated sleep apnea can lead to:

          

·         5 x increase in cardiovascular mortality risk 

·         2 x increase in risk of stroke 

·         3 x greater risk of developing hypertension 

·         poor control of blood sugar and body weight

·         2-fold increase in risk of diabetes

·         5-fold increase in risk of depression

·         3 times greater rate of divorce   

·         5 to 7-fold increase in risk of car accidents  

·         poor control of atrial fibrillation despite surgery 

·         increased incidence and accelerated onset of Alzheimer's disease (by as much as 13 years) 

·         3 x greater risk of Parkinson's disease in women

·         2-fold increase in risk of osteoporosis

·         significant contribution to ADHD-type cognitive and behavioral disturbances in children

In addition, a 2010 Harvard study shows that employees suffering from untreated sleep apnea 

·         consume 2 times more healthcare resources in the 2 years prior to diagnosis,

·         are 5-6 times more likely to take sick days

·         are 6 times more likely to demonstrate lower productivity than their counterparts

·         have a 4-fold increase in the odds of a negative or stagnant career path

              Finally, highly fatigued workers are 70 percent more likely to be involved in workplace accidents compared to workers with lower fatigue levels.

                      Don’t take a chance – take a sleep test!

Whether you are at the beginning of this process and wondering what the next step is, or have already been diagnosed but are unwilling or unable to wear a CPAP machine, we are here to guide you and map out all your options. 

There are many different aspects to consider when discussing sleep apnea treatments with our patients, in order to maximize success and minimize side effects. As a member of both the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, we make it a priority to constantly keep track of the latest research and technology developments in the field, to share with our patients and healthcare partners and provide creative solutions for challenging cases.  We use top of the line dental appliances, HST-based treatment efficacy testing and compliance-monitoring technology, as well as cloud-based dental sleep medicine software and protocols - all designed to create a comprehensive, streamlined process from initial consultation to insurance billing and post-treatment follow-up, while keeping the patient's other healthcare providers updated with detailed progress reports throughout the entire process.  

We hope that the information offered  on this website is useful and interesting.  Our team is here to help you find the answers that you need to optimize your health outcomes, performance and quality of life.