“Lake Park Dental is an excellent office! I like all the people, the way they embrace new technology and are constantly improving the services they provide. They always remember to ask about my life and family, and make me feel like a favorite every time. They also work with you, whatever your circumstances. Dr. Graham and her team are all skilled, and truly care about the health of their clients.”
Welcome to Lake Park Dental, where Dr. Meggie Graham and her dedicated team embrace a comprehensive approach to dentistry, focusing not just on oral health but also on its intricate connection to overall well-being.
Our treatment philosophy is rooted in the belief that oral health is an integral part of the bigger health picture, affecting everything from sleep quality to cardiovascular health. Leveraging innovative methods like the Seattle Sleep Protocol, we specialize in diagnosing and treating sleep apnea, employing a range of services including custom-fitted Mandibular Advancement Devices (MADs), Myofunctional Therapy for both adults and children, and targeted interventions for conditions like tongue ties. Whether you’re facing difficulties in breathing, chewing, or speaking, we provide customized treatment plans in collaboration with trusted specialists to address the root cause of your problems. For more specialized airway, breathing, and sleep services, we proudly refer to Untethered, ensuring a holistic treatment approach for our patients. Come experience how comprehensive dentistry can transform your health and enrich your life.
Our mission is people. We believe everyone is worthy of love, kindness, honesty, and real solutions to help people feel better, look better, and be better. We are here to deliver life-changing healthful solutions that inspire everyone to be the best version of themselves.
At Lake Park Dental, we can help patients non-invasively treat sleep related breathing disorders, including snoring, upper airway resistance syndrome, and obstructive sleep apnea. We carefully collect airway data through an easy-to-use sleep quality screening device or through a physician-recommended sleep study. Based on these insights, we offer custom-fitted Mandibular Advancement Devices (MADs) as a viable and comfortable alternative to traditional CPAP machines. FDA-approved and specially designed to hold the jaw in a forward position during sleep, MADs ensure an open airway, facilitating uninterrupted breathing and quality sleep. Their small, portable nature makes them especially convenient for our patients. Our goal is to give you more than just relief from your symptoms. We also want to see long-term improvements in your airway health, energy levels, and overall well-being.
Myofunctional therapy is an exercise-based treatment focusing on retraining the muscles of the face, mouth, tongue, and throat to correct orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMDs). Think of it as a combination of personal training and physical therapy! It can be challenging to unlearn dysfunctional muscle patterns, but very valuable! OMDs can significantly affect one’s ability to chew, swallow, speak, and maintain proper body posture.
In children, orofacial myofunctional issues can have far-reaching implications, affecting not just oral functions, but also craniofacial development, breastfeeding, eating solids, speech, and breathing. A myofunctional therapist, often recommended by a dentist, dental hygienist, orthodontist, or speech pathologist, can customize a program to tackle problems such as tongue thrust, lisp, open bite, and mouth breathing. Proper early intervention can have long-lasting benefits, including optimized growth, proper dental occlusion, improved breathing, and better body posture.
For adults, these disorders can lead to challenges in chewing, swallowing, and breathing, sometimes contributing to conditions like sleep apnea. Chronic facial and neck pain, headaches, and temporomandibular disorders. The therapy involves a set of tailored exercises, including facial and tongue movements, breathing exercises, and behavior modification techniques for proper tongue positioning and facial muscle usage.
The goal of myofunctional therapy is to achieve corrections that are often retained for years, thereby benefiting overall health. Whether you’re facing issues with eating, breathing, or sleeping, consult your healthcare provider to see if myofunctional therapy can be a beneficial addition to your treatment plan.
Ankyloglossia, commonly known as tongue tie, is a condition where the lingual frenulum or frenum is excessively short or restrictive, thereby limiting the tongue’s range of motion. This restriction poses various problems across the lifespan—from difficulties in breastfeeding for infants, eating for children, to speech impediments and poor oral hygiene in children and adults. Additionally, the condition can compromise proper jaw growth and airway development, contributing to sleep-related issues like open-mouth breathing and sleep apnea in both children and adults. Breathing related issues related to this condition include higher risk for allergies, asthma, and being more prone to respiratory illnesses. For those suffering from ankyloglossia, medical intervention can offer significant relief, better health, and improved quality of life. Procedures like frenectomy or frenuloplasty can adjust the restrictive frenulum, liberating the tongue for a greater range of motion. Often a combination of instruments are used to achieve full release of restricted fascia. A CO2 Laser is the preferred method for surgery as it is an efficient option that minimizes bleeding and speeds up the healing process. Post-treatment, individuals often experience immediate improvements in speech, eating, and potentially, related sleep issues. We believe in a comprehensive approach to releasing restricted or tethered oral tissues. To simply release the restriction without regards to function will not solve issues. It needs to be done in conjunction with pre and post operative myofunctional therapy to achieve safe and adequate results. Be wary of providers offering a “clip and go” solution without discussion or consideration for function.
Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) services play a crucial role in the comprehensive treatment approach we offer for various issues like sleep disorders, myofunctional therapy needs, and mandibular advancement. Nasal Airway Obstruction (NAO) is a common condition often undiagnosed that can severely impact sleep quality and overall well-being. Symptoms such as nasal congestion, difficulty in breathing through the nose, and poor sleep may signal the presence of NAO. This condition may be connected to other issues we address, like tongue ties, that also impact breathing and sleep quality.
While some treatments, like Mandibular Advancement Devices and myofunctional therapy, can be administered in our office, more complex ENT-related issues may require specialized attention. However sometimes in office treatment options are possible! We work closely with an ENT doctor to offer consultations and sometimes treatment in our office. In office treatment options like VivAer are quick, with limited downtime and can offer great results for improved nasal breathing. This non-invasive procedure uses low-temperature radiofrequency energy to improve airflow and offers lasting relief from nasal obstructions. Such collaborations ensure our patients receive a holistic treatment approach that addresses the root cause of their problems.
An underdeveloped airway can be a significant health issue, impacting various aspects of well-being, from sleep quality to cardiovascular health. Blocked or narrow upper breathing passages can create a host of challenges, such as strain on the heart and brain, particularly during sleep. Dentists are often the first healthcare providers to detect these issues, as many of the symptoms manifest orally—like tooth grinding or wear. An underdeveloped airway can result from anatomical limitations, such as a narrow palate or large tonsils, affecting both children and adults. Addressing an underdeveloped airway often requires specialized care. One effective solution is palatal expansion (MARPE), a procedure aimed at widening the maxilla, or upper jaw, to improve airflow and, consequently, overall health. Palatal expansion is a specialty and passion of Dr. Graham, who utilizes cutting-edge techniques and an interdisciplinary approach often involving orthodontists and oral surgeons for comprehensive treatment. This procedure not only ameliorates oral function and aesthetics but also significantly improves airway health, positively affecting sleep quality and reducing risks associated with untreated airway issues.
Lake Park Dental
2524 E Webster Place #201
Milwaukee, WI 53211
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