Airway Sleep And Pain Solutions
Functional Airway Dentistry For Sleep and Pain Relief
Sam Calabrese, DDS, D. ABDSM, FAGD
Dental Sleep Medicine • Craniofacial Pain • Interventional Orthodontics • Dental Rehabilitation
545 N Rand Rd, Lake Zurich, IL 60047 • (847) 550-0700
Please call our office to receive your passcode for the HIPAA-compliant intake portal.
The Practice Story
Most patients who find this practice arrive with a familiar pattern: they have done the “right things,” yet symptoms keep returning or evolving. They may have been treated for sleep-disordered breathing, TMJ dysfunction, clenching, headaches, “sinus pressure,” dizziness, fatigue, anxiety, or neck pain as separate problems—yet the story still feels fragmented.
Our role is to identify the upstream pattern and organize care around one central objective: restore deep, stable, long-duration sleep by improving airway stability, breathing behavior, oral-facial function, and recovery capacity. Medications may be appropriate for acute relief or as a bridge. The aim here is durable resolution—lowering neurologic vulnerability by addressing the drivers that perpetuate disrupted sleep and the recurring headache/migraine cycle.
At Airway Sleep & Pain Solutions, we often frame chronic headache and migraine patterns as a brain–sleep–autonomic stability problem, not merely a pain problem. When sleep becomes lighter, shorter, and more fragmented, the nervous system stays more reactive—sensory sensitivity rises, resilience drops, and pain thresholds fall. The missing link is often sleep fragmentation driven by overlapping structural, functional, behavioral, and metabolic compensations.
Relief & Discovery : a structured, time-limited pathway to map symptoms, evaluate airway/jaw/swallow function, and test whether supportive changes improve sleep continuity, nervous system stability, and head–neck pain patterns.
Growth & Restoration : Aims to make those gains structural and long-lasting—guiding growth or reshaping the bite, expanding functional space, stabilizing swallow mechanics, and protecting airway-oriented restorative outcomes.
Rather than defaulting to “one more appliance,” we use a structured, collaborative workflow: we listen first, measure what matters, and then guide care in a way that can be co-managed with your existing medical and therapy team.
This is intentionally interdisciplinary. We coordinate with sleep physicians, ENTs, primary care, neurology when indicated, physical therapy, and SLP/myofunctional therapy to align timing, reduce duplication, and keep the plan grounded in objective findings and functional change.
We focus on restoring deep, stable sleep—not chasing symptoms.
Who we help
We work with children, teens, and adults whose sleep and symptoms overlap—often at the crossroads of airway, bite, oral-facial function, and nervous system regulation. Many patients report recurring headaches or migraine patterns alongside non-restorative sleep, jaw tension, and breathing instability.
Sleep & breathing struggles
Snoring, suspected sleep apnea, or UARS patterns
Waking unrefreshed, fragmented sleep, “tired but wired” nights
Brain fog, trouble focusing, daytime fatigue
Positional or REM-related symptom swings
Growth & development concerns in kids (4–15)
Crowded teeth, narrow palate, or “small mouth” patterns
Mouth breathing, snoring, or restless sleep
Night grinding, bedwetting, or “growing pains”
Speech, chewing, or swallowing patterns that seem off
Head, neck & jaw pain
TMJ pain, jaw clicking or locking, restricted opening
Facial pain or tension, pressure behind the eyes
Headaches and migraine patterns that track with sleep fragmentation, clenching/bruxism, posture, and autonomic load
Ear fullness, ringing (tinnitus), or pain without clear ENT findings
Complex “I’ve tried everything” cases
Multiple providers with partial relief, but nothing that fully “sticks”
“Normal” imaging or labs that don’t match symptoms
Symptoms that change with stress, sleep position, or bite changes
If your symptoms overlap across categories, this is common—and often meaningful.
Our Four Drivers of Sleep & Pain
Instead of chasing isolated symptoms, we look at how four systems interact to shape airway stability, sleep continuity, autonomic load, and pain sensitivity.
Structural - bones, joints, and space
Jaw size and position
TMJ health and joint loading
Dental crowding and “small mouth” patterns
Neck alignment and head posture
Myofunctional - tongue, muscles, and swallow
Tongue posture and strength
Lip seal and oral habits
Swallowing patterns and compensation
Clenching, grinding, and muscle overuse
Breathing - airflow and pressures
Nasal vs mouth breathing
Airway resistance and collapsibility
Breathing rate and depth
Breathing patterns tied to anxiety or pain
Metabolic - energy, recovery, and nervous system balance
Vitamin and nutrient status (e.g., D and B vitamins)
Pain sensitization and inflammation
Nervous system regulation and autonomic load
Circadian rhythm and light/sleep routines
The Four Pillars of Care
When a patient is appropriate for our structured program, care is organized around four pillars that aim to restore function—not just reduce symptoms. The target is improved sleep continuity and physiologic stability, which often changes head–neck pain and headache/migraine vulnerability over time.
Orthotic therapy for structural balance: digitally-designed supports (when indicated) to optimize jaw position, decompress TM joints, reduce muscle overload, and improve tongue space mechanics.
Nasal breathing restoration: a structured, practical approach to improve nasal airflow tolerance, reduce mouth-breathing compensation, and support sleep stability (often coordinated with ENT timing when needed).
Oral-facial myofunctional activation: targeted exercises and coordination with SLP/myofunctional therapy when indicated to improve lip seal, tongue posture, swallow mechanics, and daytime functional patterns.
Metabolic and sleep repair (RightSleep®-informed): case-dependent discussions to support circadian rhythm, nutrient status, recovery capacity, and nervous system regulation as part of a comprehensive sleep-stability plan.
How the program works
Care is organized into two programs so we can first find what helps you, then build something that lasts.
Relief & Discovery Program
Detailed history and focused head/neck/airway/TMJ exam
Day and/or night oral orthotics to test healthier positions (case-dependent)
Breathing and sleep-hygiene coaching; positional strategies when relevant
Myofunctional and swallow screening; targeted exercises or collaborative referrals
Growth & Restoration Program
Airway-guided orthodontic and/or orthopedic treatment planning
Myofunctional therapy integration to stabilize tongue posture and swallow
Bite stabilization and restorative planning in the new functional position (when indicated)
Retention strategies for teeth, tongue posture, and airway habits
Dr. Calabrese
Sam Calabrese, DDS, D. ABDSM, FAGD is a dentist focused at the intersection of airway, sleep- disordered breathing, and craniofacial pain. He collaborates closely with ENTs, sleep specialists, myofunctional therapists, physical therapists, and dental colleagues to support interdisciplinary outcomes.
By adopting an "Airway First" model, Dr. Calabrese seeks to resolve the underlying anatomical causes of systemic health issues. His approach is built on the belief that optimized breathing and proper jaw alignment are the foundations of overall well-being.
Expertise & Specialized Care
Dr. Calabrese’s practice is defined by a commitment to Functional Jaw Orthopedics and Craniofacial Sleep Medicine. His clinical specialties include:
Sleep-Disordered Breathing: Specialized treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome (UARS) using custom-titrated oral appliances.
TMJ & Craniofacial Pain: Managing complex jaw disorders and chronic facial pain through neuromuscular alignment and non-invasive therapies.
Interventional Orthodontics: Utilizing growth guidance techniques to optimize airway volume and jaw development in both pediatric and adult patients.
Restorative Harmony: Ensuring that traditional dental work—such as crowns and implants—is performed in harmony with the patient’s airway and bite function.
Relief & Discovery Program
A structured 4-month pathway to understand your pattern—before committing to
long-term structural treatment.
We use detailed questionnaires, a focused exam, and gentle appliances and exercises to answer one key question:
Do you feel and function better when we give your tongue and airway more room and support?
What we are trying to discover
• support a healthier jaw and tongue position
• improve breathing and swallow mechanics
• reduce compensations that keep the nervous system on alert
Who this program is for
• Adults with snoring, suspected sleep apnea/UARS patterns, TMJ pain, headaches or migraine patterns, or facial pain
• Children (approximately age 4–15) with mouth-breathing, snoring, narrow jaws, crowding, or tongue-tie
• Patients who have “tried a nightguard” or CPAP and still feel unwell
• Patients with overlapping patterns: jaw tension + sleep fragmentation + dizziness/head pressure + “tired but wired” nights
What the 4 months typically include
• Step 1: Comprehensive questionnaire and symptom mapping
• Step 2: Focused jaw, airway, and swallow exam
• Step 3: Gentle support to test function (appliance support when indicated, breathing/swallow guidance, targeted home routines)
• Step 4: Reassessment and decision point (continue supportive care vs build durable change)
Step 1: Questionnaire and mapping
We begin with a comprehensive health and sleep questionnaire (completed at home or in- office). We are looking for patterns such as:
• Snoring, witnessed breathing pauses, or unrefreshing sleep
• Jaw pain, clenching/bruxism, clicking/locking, limited opening
• Headaches or migraine patterns, facial pain, ear symptoms, tinnitus, dizziness, or head pressure
• Mouth-breathing, nasal congestion, allergies/asthma, and reflux
• Energy, medications, prior treatments, and what has/has not worked
Step 2: Focused exam
In-office, we evaluate beyond teeth, including:
• Posture and jaw mechanics (opening/closing patterns, deviations, muscle tenderness, joint sounds)
• Airway and nasal breathing (right/left nasal patency, tongue posture, tongue space, palate/arch form)
• Swallow function and compensations (tongue thrust, lip/cheek recruitment, airway- protective jaw posturing)
• Occlusal and restorative considerations (wear patterns, vertical dimension concerns, bite stability)
Step 3: Supportive therapy to test the pattern
Phase 1Our treatments designed to be anon-invasive “Proof of Concept.” Depending on the case, this may include gentle support strategies such as:
• Oral orthotic support to reduce strain and improve jaw/tongue position (case-dependent)
• Breathing and nasal hygiene strategies (to support nasal breathing when possible)
• Swallow and tongue-posture coaching, often coordinated with SLP-myofunctional therapy when indicated
• Short, practical home routines to stabilize gains between visits
Step 4: Reassessment and decision point
At the end of the Relief & Discovery window, we evaluate your response. If you sleep better, hurt less, and function better with support, it may be appropriate to make those gains structural.
If the pattern does not change meaningfully, we recalibrate—often saving you time and expense by avoiding the wrong long-term path.
Growth & Restoration Program
When resolution is achieved there are options….
When you sleep better, hurt less, and function better with supportive changes, this helps convert that “test drive” into stable structure—so gains in sleep continuity, headache/migraine vulnerability, and head–neck comfort are more durable.
Adults vs growing children
Adults: We work to create stable airway and tongue space, improve functional patterns, and address bite stability.
Growing children: The goal is to guide growth while the child is developing—testing and guiding at the same time rather than waiting.
For Providers
We partner with sleep physicians, ENTs, primary care, dentists, physical therapists, and Myofunctional Therapists because sleep, pain, and breathing issues cross traditional specialty lines.
Our focus is airway-focused dental sleep medicine, TMJ/craniofacial pain, and oral posture concerns—delivered through a structured program and clear documentation that supports co-management.
Clinical Scope
• Obstructive sleep apnea and upper airway resistance (in collaboration with board-certified sleep physicians)
• Snoring and non-restorative sleep
• TMJ/TMD, jaw, head, and neck pain (including headache and migraine patterns that overlap with sleep fragmentation)
• Bruxism related to airway load or joint instability
• Oral posture and airway development concerns (adolescents and adults)
• clear identification of which program the patient is entering and why
• a concise summary of sleep testing and imaging considered, jaw/airway/swallow findings response
• scannable updates that integrate into your chart
• ongoing invitations for case discussion as needed
Which Patients Are a Good Fit?
Consider referral if your patient has:
• Sleep-disordered breathing plus TMJ symptoms, headaches or migraine patterns, facial pain, or recurrent head/neck tension
• Persistent bruxism despite standard dental appliances
• Chronic mouth-breathing, low tongue posture, or suspected airway-related growth issues
• Non-restorative sleep or fatigue with suspected structural and metabolic contributions
• Plateaued progress despite conventional medical or dental treatment
How to Refer a Patient
You can refer a patient by:
• Calling our office to discuss the case and schedule.
• Sending a brief referral note with sleep study data and relevant records (imaging, recent notes, medication list).
Suggested referral form fields (for an online form block):
• Patient name and contact information
• Primary concerns (sleep, TMJ, pain, airway, other)
• Relevant medical history and current medications
• Copies of recent imaging and sleep studies, if available
Conditions That We Treat
Treatments are selected based on your diagnosis and functional goals. In many complex cases, treatment is organized through our structured program to reduce sleep fragmentation, improve airway and oral-facial function, and lower autonomic load—changes that can meaningfully impact head–neck pain and headache/migraine vulnerability over time.
Many of the symptoms listed on this page are routinely treated as separate problems—sleep apnea, TMJ dysfunction, clenching, headaches, “sinus pressure,” dizziness, fatigue, or brain fog.
In our experience, they often overlap because they share upstream drivers: sleep fragmentation and autonomic load driven by a combination of airway mechanics, oral-facial function, breathing behaviors, and recovery capacity.
We frequently frame chronic headache and migraine patterns as a brain–sleep–autonomic stability problem, not merely a pain problem. When sleep becomes lighter and more interrupted, the nervous system can remain more reactive—sensory sensitivity rises, resilience drops, and pain thresholds fall. Our goal is to identify the pattern and organize care around one central objective: restore deep, stable, long-duration sleep by improving airway stability, breathing mechanics, oral function, and metabolic resilience (including targeted support whenclinically indicated).
Conditions We Commonly See
• Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and upper airway resistance
• Snoring and non-restorative sleep
• TMJ/TMD and jaw joint pain
• Headaches, migraine patterns, and facial pain
• Bruxism (clenching and grinding)
• Mouth-breathing, tongue posture concerns, and airway development issues
• Bite instability or occlusal disharmony related to airway or joint strain
If you see your symptoms reflected in multiple sections, that is common—and often informative. This page is designed to help you recognize overlap and then explore the conditions most relevant to your story .
Diagnostics
Diagnostics are used to connect symptoms to structure and function—especially when the story includes fragmented sleep, recurring headaches or migraine patterns, jaw strain, and breathing instability. We start with your questionnaire and exam, then review or recommend the right inputs (often through your physician) to clarify drivers and coordinate care.
Common Inputs We Review
• Health and sleep questionnaire
• Head/neck/airway/TMJ clinical exam
• Sleep testing reports (PSG or HST, when provided/ordered through your physician)
• Imaging (including CBCT when appropriate) and prior radiology reports
What You Receive
• A clear written findings summary in plain language
• A prioritized plan with recommended next steps
• When indicated, recommendations for collaboration with ENT, sleep medicine, SLP /
Myofunctional Therapists, PT, or other providers
Treatments
Treatments are selected based on your diagnosis and functional goals. In many complex cases, treatment is organized through our structured program to reduce sleep fragmentation, improve airway and oral-facial function, and lower autonomic load—changes that can improve sleep and meaningfully impact head–neck pain and headache/migraine vulnerability over time.
Treatments We May Recommend
• Oral appliance therapy for sleep-disordered breathing (in collaboration with sleep physicians)
• Orthotics/splints for TMJ unloading and muscle balance (day and/or night, as indicated)
• Interventional orthodontic planning to create functional space and improve airway-oriented mechanics (case-dependent)
• Restorative dentistry designed around airway protection, bite stability, and joint health (case-dependent)
• Breathing rehabilitation and coordination of ENT timing
• Myofunctional activation and coordination with SLP / Myofunctional Therapists
• RightSleep®-informed sleep and metabolic support discussions (as appropriate within the care plan)
Contact / Book an Appointment
Call (847) 550-0700 to schedule or request an appointment online.
Fax: 866.302.4168
Our office is located at 545 N Rand Rd, Lake Zurich, IL 60047.