Functional Root Cause Treatment for Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea clinic care is about more than improving sleep.
Conditions like obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea, and other sleep disorders involve repeated pauses in breathing that increase health risks by straining the heart, disrupting brain function, and draining daily energy.
Functional Sleep Medicine, founded by Dr. Lon Peckham, is a sleep apnea clinic that blends airway-focused care with principles of dental sleep medicine to identify and treat the underlying causes of disordered breathing during sleep and related sleep disorders. Conditions like obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea, and other sleep disorders don’t just affect rest; they strain the heart, disrupt brain function, and drain daily energy.
Adult
Pediatrics
Maverick Health
Ask yourself are you…
Snoring?
Fatigued?
Drowsy?
Have you ever winked off while driving?
Apneic?
Debilitated?
Do you have persistent, unresolving chronic health problems?
Grinding?
Have you ever experienced chronic bruxism?
Snoring?
Is snoring creating issues with your spouse?
Fatigued?
Do you find yourself feeling excessively on a regular basis?
Drowsy?
Have you ever winked off while driving?
Apneic?
Do you have sleep apnea but hate or refuse to wear a CPAP?
Debilitated?
Do you have persistent, unresolving chronic health problems?
Grinding?
Have you ever experienced chronic bruxism?
OUR MISSION:
Treating Sleep Apnea
at the source
Many people seek care for ongoing sleep problems without realizing that airway restriction or disordered breathing during sleep may be contributing factors.
This deeper, root-cause approach matters—especially when you consider that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) affects an estimated 80% of the general adult population, making airway-related sleep disorders far more common than most people realize.
Sleep Apnea Services
Under One Roof
Sleep Apnea Testing
Testing helps determine:
- Whether sleep apnea or airway resistance is present
- Severity of breathing disruption
- Which treatment paths are most appropriate
Sleep Apnea Treatment
Treatment recommendations are guided by established clinical guidelines and evidence supported by clinical trials, ensuring approaches are both safe and effective.
At Functional Sleep Medicine, many of our new patients express the same frustration: the thought of depending on a CPAP machine or mouthpiece every single night for the rest of their lives feels overwhelming. With The Vivos Method, we are able to offer these patients something completely different – a way to permanently address why their airway collapses during sleep, not just how to prop it open temporarily.
The science behind Vivos therapy is straightforward: if your jaw and oral cavity didn’t develop to their full potential, your airway is likely smaller than it should be. During sleep, when your muscles relax, your tongue can fall back and block your airway repeatedly throughout the night. Dr. Peckham uses the Vivos Method to gradually and noninvasively reshape these structures, expanding your oral cavity and creating the room your airway needs. This process typically takes about 12 months of active treatment—a finite timeline focused on creating lasting anatomical improvement. For many patients, this represents a fundamentally different philosophy: treating the condition’s root cause rather than managing symptoms indefinitely with nightly devices.
Functional Sleep Medicine is a certified Vivos Provider and is excited to share Vivos has been FDA-Approved to treat Severe, Moderate, and Mild Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
*We are a certified 
provider!
Our Testimonials
Oral appliance therapy may be
appropriate for patients who:
- Have mild, moderate, or even severe sleep apnea
- Cannot tolerate a CPAP machine
- Snore due to airway collapse
- Need a portable treatment option
Especially for patients with crowns, bridges, or most dental implants, where appliance design and jaw positioning must be carefully considered.
These devices are fitted and monitored by experienced providers to ensure comfort, effectiveness, and long-term safety—especially for patients with crowns, bridges, dental implants, an artificial tooth, a new artificial tooth, or other forms of tooth replacement, where appliance design and jaw positioning must be carefully considered.
CPAP Alternatives for Sleep Apnea
CPAP therapy can be effective for some patients, but it is not the only option. Many people struggle with long-term use, discomfort, or poor compliance. Functional Sleep Medicine evaluates whether alternatives can improve breathing without reliance on a CPAP machine. CPAP may still be used when appropriate, but it is not the default solution.
As a full-service sleep apnea clinic, we offer CPAP alternatives when appropriate. These options may include:
Oral appliance Therapy
Airway expansion approaches
Muscle and breathing pattern retraining
Lifestyle support
Our goal is to help patients breathe more comfortably during sleep while supporting long-term airway health. If CPAP has not worked for you, schedule a consultation to review other options. In select cases, patients may also be referred for advanced therapies such as hypoglossal nerve stimulation when noninvasive approaches are not effective and specific medical criteria are met.
What Patients Gain From a
Whole-Health Approach
A Team-Based
Sleep Apnea Clinic
This coordinated approach allows treatment plans to address multiple contributors to sleep apnea rather than isolating a single symptom, while also considering how ongoing dental visits support appliance monitoring, oral health, and long-term airway stability.
Oral health plays an important role in airway stability and long-term sleep outcomes. For some patients, a history of missing teeth or prior dental implant surgery can influence jaw position, bite balance, and how oral appliances fit and function. Our team considers dental history as part of a complete airway evaluation to ensure sleep apnea treatments are safe, compatible, and supportive of existing dental work.
Patients benefit from:
- Fewer fragmented referrals
- Clear communication across providers
- A unified treatment strategy
This is especially valuable for complex or long-standing sleep issues.
Oral health plays an important role in airway stability and long-term sleep outcomes. For some patients, a history of missing teeth or prior dental implant surgery can influence jaw position, bite balance, and how oral appliances fit and function. Our team considers dental history as part of a complete airway evaluation to ensure sleep apnea treatments are safe, compatible, and supportive of existing dental work.
Trusted by Patients Across Northern Idaho and Eastern Washington
Partnering with Functional Sleep Medicine
Lon Peckham DMD
FAAOSH, Dip ACLM
Dr. Peckham is a general dentist with a strong background in oral-systemic healthcare, including dental airway management and correction. He also has advanced certifications in Lifestyle Medicine, cognitive Reality Therapy, as well as Heart Math coherence and mindfulness. Dr. Peckham leads our team and offers various airway services:
- Airway-focused examination including home sleep test coordination and 3D cone-beam imaging
- Vivos Biomimetic Arch Expansion to finally realize the expansive airway you were genetically intended to have.
- All natural Lifestyle Coaching for weight loss, stress management, and sleep hygiene, often resulting in reversal of metabolic issues related to blood sugar, cholesterol, and systemic inflammation as well.
- Oral myofunctional therapy
- Tongue tie laser surgery
- Mandibular Advancement Appliances
Taylee Lowrey DA, OMT
Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy
Taylee is Dr. Peckham’s dental assistant as well as helping him with both in office and virtual oral myofunctional therapy.
Bryan McLelland DDS
Board Certified Oral Surgery
As an accomplished Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon with extensive experience in facial reconstruction, Dr. McLelland is an invaluable member of our team.
- Surgical arch alignment and expansion
- Surgical TMJ reconstruction
Manan Shah MD
Board Certified Allergist and ENT
Dr. Shah completed his medical school at the University of Maryland, where he pursued an additional certification in clinical research. He subsequently completed his Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery training at the University of Connecticut. He was nominated by local colleagues to serve as the President of the Colorado ENT Society, and also elected by his national peers to serve as the Chair of the YPS of the American Academy of Otolaryngology, and is also a member of the Academy’s Telehealth Committee.
- Serum allergy testing
- Sublingual immunotherapy
Sahil Chopra MD
Board Certified Sleep Medicine
As a Board Certified Sleep Physician, Dr. Chopra provides all of our sleep medicine diagnostic services as well as ancillary therapies including CPAP where indicated.
- Sleep study diagnosis
- Medical prescriptions
- CPAP therapy
*We are a certified provider!
What to Expect at Your First Visit
1
Step 1:
Consultation - individual or group
2
Step 2:
Analysis/Scan
3
Step 3:
Determine your treatment blueprint
4
Step 4:
Get started on treatment
5
Step 5:
Ongoing Treatment
No rushed decisions. No pressure. Just information and direction. Call 855-553-7566 or schedule your free consultation
Frequently Asked Questions
What actually causes sleep apnea in many patients?
Sleep apnea is often caused by airway structure, jaw position, muscle tone, nasal resistance, and inflammation. In some people, there isn’t enough space for the tongue or soft tissues, causing collapse during sleep. Identifying these factors is key to choosing the right treatment at a qualified sleep center.
Can sleep apnea exist even if I do not snore loudly?
Yes. Some patients experience silent breathing interruptions or shallow breathing without loud snoring. These disruptions can still lower oxygen levels and lead to sleep deprivation, fatigue, brain fog, and mood changes.
What happens if sleep apnea is left untreated?
“Untreated sleep apnea places repeated stress on the heart, brain, and central nervous system. Over time, this strain can contribute to serious health concerns such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, impaired memory, reduced focus, and chronic fatigue.”
Many patients also struggle with how much sleep they get versus how restorative that sleep actually is.
How is airway-focused care different from standard sleep apnea treatment?
Airway-focused care looks at why breathing becomes restricted, not just symptom control. This includes evaluating jaw structure, muscle function, nasal airflow, and how patients tolerate air pressure, while reserving surgical procedures only for specific cases when conservative options are not effective.
Will I still need a continuous positive airway pressure machine?
Some patients benefit from CPAP, while others do well with oral appliances that protect natural teeth, airway expansion, or muscle retraining. Recommendations are based on individual needs, not assumptions.
How long does it take to see improvement?
Some patients notice changes within weeks, while others improve gradually. Progress is monitored and adjusted as needed, often in coordination with your sleep center or family medicine provider.
Find Out What’s Disrupting Your Sleep
You do not need a referral or a prior diagnosis. A free consultation with a sleep specialist helps determine whether airway-focused care is right for you and what next steps make sense. Identifying the root cause of breathing disruption is often the first step toward a better night’s sleep and improved daily well-being.