The Seattle Protocol: Helping your Sleep Disordered Breathing
Sleep is an essential function that allows your body and mind to recharge, leaving you refreshed and alert when you wake up. Healthy sleep also helps the body remain healthy and stave off diseases. Without enough sleep, the brain cannot function properly. This can impair your ability to concentrate, think clearly, and process memories. When your airway (nose and throat) is obstructed, you may not sleep well. The Seattle Protocol opens your airway to allow for restful sleep.
Can you benefit from the Seattle Protocol? If you can say yes to any of the following, then YES!
Non-restful sleep. If you don’t feel refreshed when you wake, you may not be getting the most out of your sleeping hours.
Muscle or jaw joint pain - commonly referred to as TMJ.
Clenching or grinding of teeth - tooth changes indicating you may be clenching or grinding - such as worn teeth, thin teeth, breaking teeth or changes in your bite.
Headaches or migraines.
Difficulty breathing through your nose, chronic allergies or finding yourself breathing through your mouth.
Sleep apnea and cannot tolerate a CPAP machine. Or you have a CPAP and still do not feel rested.
Acid reflux.
Anxiety and/or depression.
Snoring.
You have a “night guard” but it does not help your symptoms or makes you feel worse.
What is the Seattle Protocol?
The Seattle Protocol is a systematic and progressive approach that customizes a plan to control your airway through appliance and nasal breathing therapy. The purpose of the protocol is to help us understand which step provides the best relief. Typically, the further you progress in the process, the more help your airway needs. The wonderful thing about this method that is as soon as you are feeling better, we do not have to continue through the protocol.
The steps include:
At home sleep screening- this gives Dr. Berry an overview of your sleep and gives us a baseline to compare to later in the Protocol.
Step 1 - Nasal breathing therapy: Visit our page “Why is nasal breathing important?” for more information. About 50% of patients get better just by being able to breathe through their nose!
Steps 2-6 Using a provisional (temporary) dental appliance that is modified throughout the sequence, Dr. Berry can determine what type of dental appliance will address your symptoms before you invest in a definitive appliance. In each step, one change is made to the appliance to determine what exactly made you feel better. Once you are feeling better, you will repeat the at home sleep screening to evaluate what positive changes have occurred. Dr. Berry will share these findings with your physician.
Resolution: If you do not want to live your life with a piece of plastic between your teeth and want the benefit of an open airway all day, not just at night, Dr. Berry will provide you with resolution strategies to make that happen. Resolution strategies will differ for each person but may include orthodontics, myofunctional therapy, weight loss/nutrition, orthognathic surgery or ENT options.
*Protocol failure can happen. Meaning, an appliance does not fully resolve your symptoms. We will help you coordinate the appropriate next steps by consulting your physician.*
Once it is determined the type of appliance that helps you, there will be a separate fee for the definitive appliance. The fee depends on the appliance that works for you. For Step 5 and Step 6 appliances, there may be medical insurance coverage. We will work with your physician to obtain a letter of medical necessity for the appliance. Your insurance provider may require a sleep study (at home or in-office).
The temporary appliance is not recommended for long term wear.