Chesapeake dentist Dr. Robert Simmons treats sleep apnea with non-invasive oral appliance therapy. He custom-fits thin, comfortable nightguards to eliminate sleep apnea and snoring. Our CPAP-alternative sleep apnea treatment also improves overall wellness by reducing the health risks caused by OSA.

Sleep Apnea Stats
A few of the detrimental effects of sleep apnea include:

• High blood pressure occurs in 57% of sleep apnea patients
• Sleep apnea suffers experience a higher risk of heart attack and stroke
• 78% of people with sleep apnea show signs of excessive daytime sleepiness
• 67% of adult OSA sufferers said that the condition affected their ability to perform their job for a $70 billion loss of productivity
• 24% of adults with sleep apnea report that they fell asleep behind the wheel in the past year

Diagnosis & Treatment
Sleep apnea is a condition that requires diagnosis by a medical doctor. After a confirmed diagnosis, Dr. Simmons can prescribe treatment appropriate for your individual needs. As a member of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, Dr. Simmons is uniquely qualified to treat snoring and sleep. He provides customized oral appliance therapy to resolve mild to moderate cases of OSA. Oral appliance therapy works for millions of sleep apnea suffers and is a great alternative for patients unable to tolerate CPAP.

Your oral appliance will be custom-designed to fit your mouth. The appliance fits comfortably over teeth and works by repositioning and stabilizing the lower jaw. This prevents the tongue from falling back and blocking the throat during sleep. Following your appliance fitting, we’ll monitor your progress at home with a specially designed sleep study device.

Compassionate Care
Dr. Simmons understands that a diagnosis of sleep apnea can be scary and overwhelming. He’ll help you understand the condition and work with you to resolve it. The doctor has helped countless numbers of patients achieve an end to sleep apnea and snoring, and we want to help you. We’re here to give you the relief you crave for a healthy, restful night’s sleep.

Call today to schedule your sleep apnea and snoring consultation with Dr. Simmons, Chesapeake’s choice for progressive dentistry with a personal touch.

Dr. Simmons’ technology includes:

Laser Dentistry
The dental field is full of applications for laser technology. In surgical procedures such as gum disease therapy, a laser acts as a cutting tool, and can also vaporize tissue. Other uses include curing a filling, when it works to strengthen the bond between a patient’s filling and tooth, and a heat source to activate teeth whitening chemicals during a cosmetic treatment. Laser technology is also employed in devices that detect dental decay, such as the DIAGNOdent. Learn more about dental lasers…

DIAGNOdent
You can fight the development of dental decay with routine checkups, good home hygiene, and professional deep cleanings. Prevention is always preferable to treatment, but Dr. Simmons believes in early detection of any cavities that do occur, so that treatment is as conservative and comfortable as possible. DIAGNOdent uses laser technology to find any areas of decay, some that may yet be undetectable by routine visual inspection. Spotting and arresting a cavity in its early stages saves our patients the cost and time that more aggressive treatment would require down the road. Learn more about DIAGNOdent…

Digital X-Rays
Cleaner, clearer, and safer, digital X-rays are the future of dental radiography. They are also easily stored for future review, and can be magnified for more accurate diagnostic capability. Learn more about digital X-rays…

Dental Implants
As a man-made tooth root that anchors a single crown, bridge, or denture, dental implants are the most secure tooth-replacement option available today. They are designed to mimic the structure of natural teeth, so they look and feel like the real thing. You’ll never again need to worry about denture slippage or whether you can eat a meal with confidence.  Dr. Simmons has restored many mouths to full function with dental implants. Learn more about dental implants…

Snoring and Sleep Apnea Devices
Patients who are diagnosed with sleep apnea have access to a compact, comfortable solution from Dr. Simmons. An oral appliance is a kind of mouthguard that patients with sleep apnea or snoring problems wear during sleep. The appliance keeps their airway open and free of obstruction. Learn more about a custom oral appliance for sleep apnea…

Sedation Dentistry Options
We believe that every patient deserves dental health. For many people, dental phobia and anxiety is a major obstacle to preventive, general, or restorative care. As a sedation dentist with a gentle touch, Dr. Simmons can soothe even the most fearful patients with one or more of our safe and effective sedative options. Our relaxing office is staffed with a team who truly cares about your overall wellbeing, too. So if you have avoided dental treatment in the past, don’t put it off any longer. Learn more about sedation dentistry…

If you’re ready for advanced dentistry with our gentle dentist, call our Chesapeake office today or request an appointment online. We look forward to putting you at ease, and putting the latest technology to work for your dental health.

Alternatives to traditional braces are one of the most sought after cosmetic treatments among adult patients. Misaligned and unevenly spaced teeth can put a damper on your smile. You may even attempt to hide your smile so no one sees it in pictures or when you laugh. What a shame! Your smile is meant to be shared, and you deserve the confidence to do just that. At Dr. Simmons’ general and cosmetic dentistry practice, we offer the convenience, aesthetics, and comfort of Invisalign clear braces as well as several other cosmetic options.

Many people have had braces in the past, but have since seen those teeth shift out of place again. When you find yourself in need of corrective treatment as an adult, though, there are more factors to consider than just the effectiveness of a procedure. Metal braces certainly deliver results, but they’re also an unsightly reminder for you and everyone you encounter that you’re undergoing treatment. Perhaps you don’t even mind the day to day inconvenience, but you have an important event coming up, a wedding or a class reunion, at which you absolutely don’t want to sport braces. We can help!

Our alternatives to metal braces include:

• Invisalign Clear Braces
  A far cry from traditional treatment, Invisalign clear braces are definitely not the braces you remember from childhood. These clear, removable aligners are unobtrusive and comfortable. Clear, removable aligners from Invisalign are discreet and comfortable. You can keep straightening your teeth a secret between you and Dr. Simmons, because it’s likely no one will notice you’re wearing aligners if you don’t tell them! Invisalign is also known for its swift results—patients often complete their course of treatment within a year.

• Bonding
  With cosmetic bonding, Dr. Simmons can artfully and effectively correct imperfections like chipped or unevenly spaced teeth. While not a permanent solution, bonding is a cost-conscious way to see enjoy beautiful results for about 5-7 years. Dr. Simmons tints the composite resin to perfectly match your existing tooth structure. Want whiter teeth first? Choose one of our teeth whitening options, and your bonding procedure can complement a beautifully bright smile.

• Porcelain Veneers
  Besides orthodontic treatment, these thin shells of porcelain provide the longest-lasting results. Porcelain veneers can address stubborn discolorations, and well as misshapen or misaligned teeth. Your dentist can permanently apply a few or more custom porcelain veneers to your front teeth to create your ideal smile. This cosmetic treatment is extremely secure and durable, and veneers can last for many years with the same proper care. In just two visits, you could see a new you when you look in the mirror!

If you’d like straighter teeth without metal braces, call our gentle dentist today. From our Chesapeake dental practice, Dr. Robert Simmons serves patients from Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Hampton Roads, Moyock, Elizabeth City, Currituck, Outer Banks, and many surrounding communities.

If you’ve been diagnosed with and treated for sleep apnea, then you may be one of the many people currently struggling with CPAP intolerance. Bulky, noisy machines, CPAP devices can be very effective at treating obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), but a low rate of compliance among affected patients often renders treatment ineffective. And since the CPAP, like any other corrective method, won’t work if you don’t or can’t use it, what are CPAP intolerant patients to do? Isn’t there a more comfortable, less obtrusive way to treat this condition? Yes, there is!

Your CPAP Alternative: Oral Appliance Therapy
From his Chesapeake office, Dr. Robert Simmons helps patients who have been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea achieve deeply restful sleep with oral appliance therapy. An oral appliance works by correctly positioning your jaw, which keeps the airway open throughout sleep. Patients can breathe normally all night, and the custom mouthpiece (similar to a mouthguard) is compact and  comfortable.

Why is it Important to Treat Sleep Apnea?
A CPAP may not be working for you, but that doesn’t mean you should give up trying to obtain appropriate treatment for your sleep apnea. Delaying or forgoing treatment could cause severe health consequences, including:

• High Blood Pressure
• Heart Attacks & Heart Disease
• Stroke
• Decreased Sex Drive
• Impotence
• Morning Headaches
• Depression
• Attention Deficit Disorder

If you’d like to start the diagnostic process, or are wondering whether an oral appliance is the right CPAP alternative for you, call our Chesapeake office today and schedule a consultation with sleep apnea dentist Dr. Robert Simmons. A member of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine and the American Association of Sleep Medicine, Dr. Simmons is well qualified to evaluate how dental sleep medicine could restore a full night’s rest for you.

Our Chesapeake dental practice serves patients from Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Hampton Roads, Moyock, Elizabeth City, Currituck, Outer Banks, and many surrounding communities.

In some cases, fear of pain isn’t the problem. Some people feel ashamed of their oral health and avoid the dentist because of embarrassment. In fact, according to dentalfearcentral.com, embarrassment is the primary concern that keeps people from visiting the dentist. Type “embarrassed to go to the dentist” into Google, and 26,900 results will show up.

What does this mean? You are not alone.

If you worry about being judged because of missing teeth, disease, halitosis, gum disease, dental decay, and other oral health problems, Dr. Simmons and our compassionate staff want to set your mind at ease. Our job is to help you, and we’ve successfully transformed many dental phobic people into calm, relaxed patients who attend regular dental visits without hesitation. We admire people who decide to make oral health, and overall health, a priority.

The truth is, you cannot afford to allow your oral health to remain poor. You probably know, dental problems do not go away without professional treatment. Decay and disease spread, destroying teeth, gums, and an attractive smile. Bad oral health contributes to serious overall health problems ranging from heart attack to dementia to diabetes complications.

Perhaps you’ve postponed dental treatment for years, and now you think your situation is hopeless.

• We will listen to you
• We will respect you
• We will not lecture you
• We will explain your options
• We will restore your oral health and smile

Regardless of your current situation, you can reclaim optimal oral health, fresh breath, and a beautiful smile. Call Dr. Simmons, the comfort dentist, to reserve your personal consultation. Our Chesapeake dental office serves patients from Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Hampton Roads, Moyock, Elizabeth City, Currituck, Outer Banks, and surrounding communities.