At his new practice Eugene Dental Sleep Center, Dr. Donald Dexter will treat obstructive sleep apnea with appliances as a noninvasive alternative to the CPAP. Dr. Dexter started his extensive study of sleep medicine in 2012 and has attended Mini-Residencies at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in Dental Sleep Medicine, Temporomandibular Disorders, and Pediatric Dental Sleep Medicine. In 2020 he became a Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine (ABDSM).
Dr. Dexter’s efficient approach to working with his patients streamlines the process so they can get relief quickly. After the first visit, the patient is sent home with a sleep study device. Once completed, the study is automatically sent to to Dr. Dexter. He has had some patients go through their initial visit to starting treatment in as little as 3-4 weeks.
Dr. Dexter describes his practice as community-based, “You can build a house with a hammer, but you need more than a hammer to build a house. Oral appliances are a tool that I can provide and teach patients how to use, but there are a lot of other tools in the toolbox that builds a house of wellness."
His office has two community areas. One is the Red Room, a reading room with refreshments and resources for staff and patients. The other is an art exhibition room that will host art shows and provide space for community wellness classes. This room will also serve as a community meeting room that can host study groups and other small events.
Dr. Dexter's passion for art and community is not new. In 2021, Dr. Dexter curated the R0 Prayer Flag Redux Community Project displayed in Eugene’s downtown. R0 refers to the number of infections that occur because of one infection. The project’s purpose was to positively infect others with peace, hope, love, empathy, and compassion in the face of the Covid Pandemic. Community members joined with Willamette High School students to create the flags. (“2021 Windowfront Exhibitions”)
“2021 Windowfront Exhibitions” Retrieved from https://eugene-or.gov/4638/2021-Windowfront-Exhibitions.
