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– Advanced Sleep Diagnosis & Treatment in Calgary SW
Physician-Led. Dentist-Delivered. All Under One Roof
Poor sleep is one of the most underdiagnosed health problems in Canada – and one of the most consequential. At Westside Dental in West Springs, we offer a genuinely different approach to sleep care: an integrated program where Dr. Sabah, our on-site family physician, leads the medical diagnosis, and Dr. Z oversees the dental treatment. No referrals across town. No waiting lists. No navigating the system alone. From your first screening to your custom oral appliance, everything happens here – and your care is coordinated between a physician and a dentist who work together as one team.
Are You Getting the Sleep You Need?
Most people with sleep disorders don’t know it. Sleep apnea in particular is largely invisible to the person experiencing it – because the breathing interruptions happen while you’re unconscious. The clues tend to show up in how you feel during the day, or in what your partner notices at night.
Common signs you may have a sleep disorder
- Loud or frequent snoring
- Waking up gasping, choking, or short of breath
- Feeling exhausted even after a full night’s sleep
- Morning headaches that don’t have an obvious cause
- Difficulty concentrating or persistent brain fog
- Mood changes, irritability, or increased anxiety
- Frequent nighttime waking or restless sleep
- Your partner has witnessed pauses in your breathing
If you recognise several of these, a sleep assessment at Westside Dental is the right next step – and it’s far simpler than you might think.
Understanding Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a medical condition in which breathing is repeatedly interrupted during sleep. Each pause – which can happen dozens or even hundreds of times per night – causes a drop in blood oxygen levels and briefly wakes the brain to resume breathing. Most people are unaware this is happening.
Understanding Sleep Apnea
There are two main types. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) – the most common – occurs when the throat muscles relax and block the airway during sleep. Central sleep apnea involves the brain failing to send proper signals to the breathing muscles.
Left untreated, sleep apnea significantly increases the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, chronic fatigue, and depression. It also affects the people sleeping beside you.
The good news: when properly diagnosed and treated, sleep apnea is very manageable – and many patients find that a well-fitted dental oral appliance changes their life.
Physician-Led Diagnosis. Dental Expertise. One Team.
Most dental clinics can screen for sleep apnea and provide an oral appliance – but they cannot diagnose it. In Alberta, a formal sleep apnea diagnosis must come from a licensed physician. That’s why most patients end up bouncing between their dentist, their family doctor, and a sleep specialist – a process that can take months.
How Our Sleep Program Works
Step 1 – Medical Assessment with Dr. Sabah
Dr. Sabah conducts a comprehensive medical consultation – reviewing your symptoms, health history, cardiovascular risk factors, current medications, and lifestyle. He evaluates whether a home sleep test is appropriate and, if so, orders one through our Level 3 Sleep Testing device.
Step 2 – At-Home Level 3 Sleep Test
Rather than requiring an overnight stay at a hospital sleep lab, Westside Dental uses a Level 3 portable sleep testing device – a clinical-grade monitor you wear at home while sleeping in your own bed. The device measures your breathing patterns, oxygen levels, heart rate, and sleep position throughout the night. You return it the following morning, and Dr. Sabah interprets the results.
Step 3 – NEW, the collaborative review
Your Results Are Reviewed by a Collaborative Sleep Team. Before you return for your results, your sleep study isn’t reviewed by just one set of eyes. Your results are discussed at a collaborative case review with Dr. Sabah Jarullah, Dr. Zubaida Hussain, Dr. James MacFarlane and Dr. Aous Al-Shehabi. Together, the team reviews your data and shapes a treatment plan tailored to your severity, anatomy, and lifestyle. Dr. Sabah then provides your formal medical diagnosis.
Step 4 – Diagnosis & Your Treatment Options
CPAP Therapy
Most established option for moderate-to-severe OSA; Dr. Sabah prescribes and coordinates setup with a trusted equipment provider.
Custom Oral Appliance
First-line for mild-to-moderate and CPAP-intolerant patients; digital scanning with Dr. Z; physician-prescribed, which many insurance plans require for coverage.
Surgical Referral
For anatomy-driven cases; Dr. Sabah refers to the appropriate surgical specialist with complete documentation.
Adjunctive Therapies
Solea® laser snoring therapy, myofunctional therapy, and positional/lifestyle strategies alongside primary treatment.
Step 5 – Ongoing Monitoring
Sleep apnea management doesn’t end with the appliance. Dr. Sabah monitors your progress from a medical perspective – tracking your oxygen levels, blood pressure, and overall health response to treatment. Dr. Z monitors the appliance fit and makes adjustments as needed. You have two providers looking after your sleep health, not one.
Beyond the Airway — Whole-Person Sleep Support
Treating sleep apnea opens your airway – but that isn’t always the whole story. Chronic pain, night-time bathroom trips, and a mind that won’t switch off are three of the most common reasons people still sleep poorly, even after their breathing is treated. Because Westside brings dental, medical, and wellness care together under one roof, your sleep plan can address the whole picture — not just one piece of it.
EXOMIND® – A Calmer Mind for Deeper Sleep
A racing mind is one of the most common reasons people can’t fall asleep – or fall back asleep at 3 a.m. EXOMIND® is a drug-free brain stimulation program that supports mental wellness, stress resilience, and sleep quality. Sessions are relaxing, take about 30 minutes, and involve no downtime.
EMSELLA® – Fewer Night-Time Wake-Ups
If you’re waking several times a night to use the bathroom, your bladder — not your airway — may be what’s stealing your sleep. EMSELLA® strengthens the pelvic floor muscles that support bladder control while you simply sit, fully clothed, in a specialized chair. Better bladder control can mean fewer overnight interruptions — and longer, unbroken stretches of sleep.
EMVITAL® – Relief from the Pain That Keeps You Up
Aching muscles and joints are one of the most overlooked reasons for poor sleep — it’s hard to rest when it hurts to lie still. EMVITAL® offers drug-free, temporary relief of muscle and joint pain, stiffness, and spasm — helping your body settle so sleep comes easier.
These supportive therapies are provided through the medical side of our clinic, under the supervision of Dr. Sabah Jarullah, our on-site family physician, and are recommended only where clinically appropriate following your assessment.
One clinic. One team. Every reason you’re not sleeping — addressed together.
Clinical Sleep Testing – From the Comfort of Your Own Home
Our Level 3 portable sleep testing device is one of the most important tools in our sleep program. It allows us to conduct a clinically valid sleep study without sending you to a hospital sleep lab – removing one of the biggest barriers patients face when seeking a sleep apnea diagnosis.
Why Sleep Matters Beyond Feeling Tired
Cardiovascular health – Untreated sleep apnea significantly increases the risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke
Mental health – Sleep deprivation worsens anxiety, depression, and emotional regulation – conditions we also support through our EXOMIND® mental wellness program
TMJ and jaw health – Many sleep apnea patients also grind their teeth, which drives jaw pain, headaches, and TMJ dysfunction – conditions Dr. Z treats with EMVITAL® and EMFACE®
Weight and metabolism – Poor sleep disrupts cortisol and insulin regulation, making weight management significantly harder
Cognitive function – Chronic oxygen deprivation during sleep accelerates cognitive decline and impairs memory and concentration
At Westside Dental, we see the full picture. If your sleep assessment reveals connections to your jaw health, mental wellness, or other concerns, our team can address all of it in one coordinated care plan.
Why Sleep Matters Beyond Feeling Tired
Sleep apnea is not just a snoring problem – it is a systemic health condition. When your oxygen drops repeatedly throughout the night, your body responds as if it is under chronic stress. Over time, this has measurable consequences:
Is This Covered?
Oral appliance therapy is usually covered through your private extended health benefits — most plans include coverage for sleep apnea devices when accompanied by a physician’s diagnosis and prescription. Because Dr. Sabah provides the formal diagnosis and prescription at Westside Dental, your documentation will meet the requirements most insurance providers need for claims.
0% financing through Beautifi is also available for any out-of-pocket portion of your treatment. Ask our team for details.
Our team will help you understand your coverage and prepare all necessary documentation at your appointment.
