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Sleep Apnea Appliances
in Brentwood, TN

 with Dr. Kellye Rice

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McKeeman Live at Lunch with Dr. Kelley Rice.

Energy. Passion. A Better Night’s Sleep.

CPAP machines are known as the “gold standard” for sleep apnea treatment because of their proven effectiveness for a better night’s sleep. However, a study that occurred over a 20 year period has found that nearly 30-40% of patients are non-adherent to the use of CPAP machines, therefore they are not receiving the proper treatment.

Here at Middle Tennessee Dental Sleep Specialists, Dr. Kellye Rice and her team offer advanced treatment plans for sleep apnea, using alternatives to CPAP. Utilizing her extensive training in sleep apnea, as well as her own knowledge of living with the sleep disorder herself, Dr. Rice is passionate to help her patients (and their partner) get through a full night’s sleep.

Complimentary Consultation

At Middle Tennessee Dental Sleep Specialists we are proud to offer a complimentary consultation to help evaluate the state of your sleep apnea and discuss treatment options.

The Best Options

We customize sleep apnea treatment plans according to your needs. Dr. Rice will help determine the best solution for your case.

Oral Appliances & NightLase® Therapy

Our Cool Springs dental office offers alternative solutions to CPAP for your sleep apnea and snoring. In cases where CPAP is ineffective at treating sleep apnea, an oral appliance may be recommended to relieve obstructions in your airway, letting you breathe and sleep better. Oral appliances are a small, non-intrusive, custom-made treatment for patients with mild to moderate sleep apnea.

Dr. Rice also offers NightLase® Therapy–a simple, safe, and effective process available for most patients with sleep apnea. NightLase® uses gentle laser pulses to penetrate heat into the oral tissue to provide safe and effective results that will open your airway in order to reduce snoring. There is no device necessary while you sleep and NightLase® can be completed in three treatment sessions within a six-week period.

Technology for Sleep & TMJ Disorders

Recently, researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill found a connection between OSA (obstructive sleep apnea) and TMJ disorders. This link is due to overexertion of the muscles in the jaw, temple, and forehead, which causes people to get headaches and lose sleep.

Dr. Rice is focused on helping you live a healthier, more enjoyable life. That’s why she invested in the Vatech Green CT Scanner. This machine helps us analyze, diagnose, and treat the disorder.

DNA Appliance

Vivos DNA/mRNA System appliance

DynaFlex Dorsal®

Adjustable Herbst®

Tap Devices

EMA®

What our patients are saying

Vivos mRNA/DNA Success Story
June 12, 2020

I had started breaking my back teeth 5 years before I came to Tennessee and started with Dr. Rice. When I fractured another tooth, she recommended a sleep study because excessive clenching was a symptom of sleep apnea. No one had ever mentioned that to me. The sleep study revealed moderate apnea. I started on the Vivos device (in Oct 2018). The moment I put it on I could feel air through my airway like I had never felt before. My palate was expanded, and my lower jaw moved forward to open my airway. At the end of treatment, I had another sleep study done which revealed NO sleep apnea! I sleep so much better and underlying issues have improved – arthritis and back pain. I highly recommend this treatment – and Dr. Kellye Rice!
MBH

“From the moment I arrived, the friendly staff helped me with paper work, made sure I was comfortable at all times and explained my options in great detail. I can’t say enough good things about this program, they were wonderful.”

Nicholas G.

Dr. Kellye Rice

Dr. Kellye Rice began treating sleep apnea in 2012, and not long after she was diagnosed with sleep apnea herself. Initially, Dr. Rice treated her diagnosis with a CPAP machine. However, after struggling with the inconvenience of CPAP, she decided it was time to explore other treatment options. Building an oral appliance for herself, she discovered a method for treating her sleep apnea that was more convenient and better suited to her needs.

Dr. Rice’s passion for her continued education in sleep apnea and her drive to seek out the best treatments is far more personal. In 2007 her younger sister passed away in her sleep from severe sleep apnea after she was unable to receive her CPAP in time.

Since then, Dr. Rice has dedicated herself to providing the highest level of treatment to patients, including becoming certified in cutting-edge techniques such as the Fotona Laser treatments, reaching qualified status with the AADSM, and becoming a Diplomate of the American Sleep and Breathing Academy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is obstructive sleep apnea?
How do you treat sleep apnea?
What is obstructive sleep apnea?
Obstructive sleep apnea, also known as OSA, is a common sleep disorder that prompts patients to stop breathing repeatedly throughout the night. This occurs when your mouth and throat muscles relax, causing a blockage in the airway. Signs of sleep apnea include loud snoring, irritability, morning headaches, daytime fatigue, and more.

If left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to serious health consequences, such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and Alzheimer’s disease. It’s important to seek professional treatment as soon as possible to help manage symptoms and prevent further health problems.

How do you treat sleep apnea?
At Middle Tennessee Dental Sleep Specialists, we specialize in treating snoring and sleep apnea through comprehensive treatments. Dr. Rice is a member of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, and is one of only a few hundred dentists in the United States certified in Fotona Twin Laser treatments for snoring and sleep apnea.

Dr. Rice offers customized oral appliances to fit perfectly and securely in your mouth for maximum comfort. It’s silent, affordable, discreet, convenient, and completely portable. Another alternative to be highly effective is NightLase® Therapy. Dr. Rice has found this form of treatment to be non-invasive, safe, and deliver immediate results.