(COLUMBUS, GA) OCTOBER, 2020 –Local dentist Lisa A. Strickland, DMD is now helping Columbus area patients get more restful sleep. Dr. Strickland of Whole Tree Dentistry recently earned the ‘Qualified Dentist’ designation from the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine (AADSM). This is a significant achievement, reserved only for the most dedicated dentists in the field of dental sleep medicine. Dr. Strickland is the only dentist in the Chattahoochee Valley area to have earned this achievement.
Dr. Strickland said, “Dental sleep medicine is my passion and I am proud to receive this highly esteemed designation. Sleeping with a CPAP machine, which includes a face mask, tubing, and a constantly running motor, can be difficult, and many Columbus residents are unaware that an effective and comfortable alternative treatment may be available. I’m committed to using my knowledge of dental sleep medicine and interventions such as customized oral appliances to provide my patients with a better night’s sleep.”
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Dental sleep medicine is an area of dental practice that focuses on the use of oral appliance therapy to treat sleep-disordered breathing, including snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a type of sleep apnea in which your throat muscles relax so much during sleep that they block the airway. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine estimates that 26% of people aged between 30 and 70 suffer from sleep apnea, and up to 80% of people with moderate to severe OSA go undiagnosed.
Long-Term Results of OSA in Adults & Children
Interrupted and poor quality sleep in adults can lead to daytime sleepiness and fatigue, impaired attention and memory, headaches, depression, and sexual dysfunction. Daytime sleepiness leads to a higher risk of motor vehicle accidents in individuals with obstructive sleep apnea. Obstructive Sleep Apnea is also associated with an increased risk of developing insulin resistance; high blood pressure (hypertension); heart disease; and stroke.
OSA doesn’t just affect adults. While adults usually have daytime sleepiness, children are more likely to have behavioral problems. During the day, children with sleep apnea might perform poorly in school, have difficulty paying attention, learning problems, behavioral issues, poor weight gain and may be hyperactive.
About Lisa A. Strickland, DMD:
Dr. Strickland, a Columbus, GA native, has been in dentistry since the age of 17. After working in a dental office for several years, she realized her passion for dentistry and received her DMD from the Medical College of Georgia in 1997. Dr. Strickland has been in private practice for 23 years. Her practice, Whole Tree Dentistry, provides general dentistry services with a whole body oral systemic approach including Dental Sleep Medicine.
About the American Academy Of Dental Sleep Medicine:
The American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine (AADSM) is the only nonprofit national professional society dedicated exclusively to the practice of dental sleep medicine. The AADSM provides educational resources for dentists and promotes the use of oral appliance therapy for the treatment of OSA and sleep-disordered breathing. Established in 1991, the AADSM has nearly 3,000 member dentists worldwide. Visit www.aadsm.org or call the national office at 630-686-9875 for more information.
