Sleep Therapy – We Can Offer a Better Night’s Sleep!

Dentist Hartington

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Do you or your loved one snore?


Have you been diagnosed with sleep apnea or have difficulty tolerating your CPAP?


What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a serious condition that causes a person to stop breathing during sleep. In some cases, you may stop breathing for a few seconds to more than a minute, hundreds of times in one sleep cycle.

Snoring, excessive daytime sleepiness, memory problems, irritability, fatigue, and insomnia are all signs that you could be losing shut-eye to sleep apnea. Sleep apnea may be caused by genetics, poor posture, allergies, enlarged tonsils, and other issues.

The traditionally prescribed treatment for obstructive sleep apnea is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. It involves sleeping with a face mask connected by tubing to a constantly running machine. Although CPAP is effective, up to half of patients don’t adhere to the treatment. Dentists can provide an alternate sleep solution with oral appliance therapy.


If you think you may have sleep apnea, contact us for a consultation.

712-433-3937 - Onawa
712-255-5754 - Sioux City


If you have obstructive sleep apnea you or your partner may notice:

  • Extended pauses in breathing during sleep
  • Loud snoring
  • Restless sleep
  • Serious daytime sleepiness
  • Irritability or personality change
  • Poor memory or concentration
  • Headaches
  • Weight gain
  • Depression

If left untreated, sleep apnea increases risks of:

  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Diabetes
  • Hypertension
  • Stroke
  • Obesity
  • Chronic Acid Reflux
  • Other serious health complications

If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, give us a call today to schedule a consultation appointment. Our doctors can provide you with effective treatment options to improve your sleep and your health. Both dentists work closely with physicians to treat snoring and obstructive sleep apnea.

712-433-3937 - Onawa | Dr. Sheila Duarte
712-255-5754 - Sioux City | Dr. Soni Gelinne


"According to new studies, patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) could be at increased risk of adverse outcomes from COVID-19, including death. Although CPAP is commonly the first-line therapy to treat sleep apnea, the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine (AADSM) recently published a position statement declaring that Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT) is an appropriate first-line therapy to treat sleep apnea without increasing the risk of spreading COVID-19." For more information visit https://aadsm.org.


Meet Your Sleep Therapy Doctors

The doctors do most of their sleep therapy out of our Onawa & Sioux City offices. Patients with loud snoring and diagnosed sleep apnea sufferers with difficulty tolerating CPAP should contact the office to schedule a consultation appointment. Both dentists also travel to see dental sleep patients in the surrounding area. Please reach out to learn more about our Sleep Therapy Services!

Sheila Duarte, DDS

Sheila Duarte, DDS graduated from the University of Nebraska College of Dentistry. In her spare time, she enjoys listening to music and spending time with family and friends.

Dr. Duarte is a diplomate with the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine (ABDSM) and a member of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine (AADSM), the only non-profit professional association dedicated exclusively to the practice of dental sleep medicine. Dr. Duarte helps treat snoring and obstructive sleep apnea with oral appliance therapy, an effective treatment that is covered by most insurance plans.

AADSM membership provides Dr. Duarte with access to educational resources and practice management tools that help her better serve her patients by providing the highest quality of care in the treatment of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. Earning Diplomate status from the ABDSM is a unique honor that recognizes special competency in dental sleep medicine. For more information about AADSM, visit www.aadsm.org.


Family First DentalSoni Gelinne, DDS

Soni Gelinne, DDS graduated from the University of Nebraska College of Dentistry. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, going to concerts, and running.

Dr. Gelinne is a diplomate with the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine (ABDSM) and a member of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine (AADSM), the only non-profit professional association dedicated exclusively to the practice of dental sleep medicine. Dr. Gelinne helps treat snoring and obstructive sleep apnea with oral appliance therapy, an effective treatment that is covered by most insurance plans.

AADSM membership provides Dr. Gelinne with access to educational resources and practice management tools that help her better serve her patients by providing the highest quality of care in the treatment of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. Earning Diplomate status from the ABDSM is a unique honor that recognizes special competency in dental sleep medicine. For more information about AADSM, visit www.aadsm.org.


Oral Appliance Therapy

If you are intolerant of your CPAP, Dr. Duarte and Dr. Gelinne can help! Oral appliance therapy is an effective, non-invasive treatment option for snoring and obstructive sleep apnea that fits easily into your lifestyle. A dental oral appliance looks like a sports mouthguard and is worn only during sleep. It supports the jaw in a forward position to help maintain an open upper airway, preventing sleep apnea and snoring.

Once you have been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea by a sleep physician, a dentist experienced in dental sleep medicine can make a custom-fitted oral appliance using impressions and models of your teeth. Oral appliance therapy is covered by many medical insurance plans. Patients like it because it's comfortable, easy to wear, quiet, portable, convenient for travel and easy to clean.

Treating snoring or sleep apnea with oral appliance therapy can help you feel like a new person. You will find that your symptoms, and your quality of life, can improve dramatically when you remain committed to your treatment and use it nightly. Custom-fit oral appliances from Family 1st Dental can improve your sleep, restore your alertness and revitalize your health.

Patients like oral appliance therapy because it is comfortable, easy to wear, quiet, portable and easy to care for. Oral appliance therapy is an effective treatment option that offers a higher rate of patient compliance than CPAP. We work with our patients, and their sleep physicians, to identify the right oral appliance design, then custom fit appliances to each patient and make any needed adjustments to ensure an open airway and a more restful sleep.

If you have concerns about snoring and sleep apnea, it may be time to make an appointment. If you suspect you may have sleep apnea, our doctors can recommend a sleep physician to help get you started on your path to treatment. If you have already been diagnosed with sleep apnea, we can fit you with an oral appliance. Our team at Family 1st Dental is ready to answer your questions about obstructive sleep apnea, dental sleep medicine and oral appliance therapy


About the ABDSM and AADSM

The American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine (ABDSM) is the only non-profit testing organization dedicated exclusively to the practice of dental sleep medicine. The ABDSM tests knowledge and clinical proficiency in dental sleep medicine and designates those who meet its requirements as Diplomates. The ABDSM is associated with the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine (AADSM) which is the only non-profit national professional society focused exclusively on dental sleep medicine. The AADSM provides educational resources for dentists and promotes the use of oral appliance therapy for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea and sleep-disordered breathing. Established in 1991, the AADSM has more than 3,000 member dentists worldwide. Visit www.abdsm.org for information on the ABDSM and visit www.aadsm.org for information on the AADSM.

To learn more and to schedule an appointment, please call today.

712-433-3937 | Dr. Sheila Duarte | 909 Iowa Ave, Onawa, IA 51040
712-255-5754 | Dr. Soni Gelinne | 2928 Hamilton Blvd Upper E, Sioux City, IA 51104

Our team at Family 1st Dental is ready to answer your questions about obstructive sleep apnea, dental sleep medicine, and oral appliance therapy.