Sleep apnea is much more than snoring. Patients with the disorder are at risk of serious impacts on their health, not to mention the patience and well-being of their families, roommates, and others.
As the father of a son who was diagnosed with sleep apnea at a young age, Dr. Ira L. Shapira knows firsthand how timely diagnosis and the right treatments can improve patients’ quality of time. His practice, Think Better Life, is a destination for patients seeking personalized sleep apnea treatment options.
Find the sleep apnea and snoring treatment that’s right for you. Please call 1-847-533-8313 to schedule your initial consultation with Dr. Shapira.
Why Choose Think Better Life
For many years, Dr. Shapira was the only dentist in Illinois, Wisconsin, and three other Midwestern states to provide oral appliance therapy for sleep apnea. Today, many dentists offer treatment for sleep apnea, but very few have the extensive experience that Dr. Shapira has built over the last 40 years.
The mission of Think Better Life is to help patients find the best solutions for sleep apnea and snoring. Many people struggle with the CPAP device (the most commonly prescribed remedy for apnea), which makes effective alternatives that patients can tolerate essential to help individuals reclaim their rest and stay healthy.
Think Better Life began treating sleep apnea decades before most other practices. Few dental offices have the long history of results, experience with many different treatment options, and level of understanding that Dr. Shapira and his team bring to your care
What Makes Dr. Shapira Different?
Dr. Shapira understands the whole-body impact of untreated sleep apnea. He recognizes that the disorder is multifaceted, encompassing issues related to physiology, posture, breathing, sleep, and much more. Multidimensional problems require holistic solutions, which is why Think Better Life stays on top of emerging medicine and science.
From 1985 to 1991, Dr. Shapira was a visiting assistant professor of psychology at the Rush Medical School Sleep Disorder Center. He became the first dentist in the country to be named an associate professor in the sleep medicine program of a medical school.
During his time at Rush Medical School, Dr. Shapira researched sleep apnea and jaw position in relation to disorders of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). He worked with Dr. Rosalind Cartwright, often considered the mother of dental sleep medicine.
Among the many organizations to which Dr. Shapira belongs, he is a credentialed, charter member of the Sleep Disorder Dental Society, which later became the Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine. He is also a diplomat of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine.
Dr. Shapira has lectured internationally on sleep disorders, TMJ dysfunction, chronic headaches, and how to problem solve for difficult patients. He is the editor of the dental section of Sleep and Health Journal and CRANIO: The Journal of Craniomandibular & Sleep Practice, as well as a contributor to many journals and books on neuromuscular and anti-aging dentistry.
What to Expect at Think Better Life
Dr. Shapira takes time with each patient to perform a comprehensive exam and medical history review. He is a firm believer in the SOAP method of diagnostics, delving into data that is Subjective (history and reported symptoms) and Objective (test results), performing a full Assessment, and Planning treatment accordingly.
Sleep disorders and TMJ dysfunction are opposite sides of the same coin. If you suffer from chronic migraines, myofascial pain, and other symptoms, visit our sister site: www.ihateheadaches.org.
Please call 1-844-283-2727 to schedule a one-on-one appointment with Dr. Shapira. Your consultation includes a comprehensive examination and review of your snoring, sleep apnea symptoms, and overall medical history. Think Better Life serves patients throughout the Chicago area, all of Illinois, and visitors from Wisconsin and nearby areas of the Midwest.
