Serenity Valley Family Dentistry
Sleep Dentistry in Fargo, ND
If you’ve been told your snoring is “just a habit” or that jaw pain is something you have to live with, the reality is that these symptoms often point to treatable airway and sleep disorders, and the right specialist can change everything. Across North Dakota and the broader region, patients are finally getting answers, and many of them are driving more than two hours to Fargo to find them.
Serenity Valley Family Dentistry has become that destination. Led by Dr. Shandra Rosenfeldt, an AADSM-diplomate dentist with the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, we have built a reputation for delivering sleep-medicine-level care within a dental setting. With three of her four working days dedicated to sleep dentistry in Fargo, frenectomies, and TMJ treatment, Dr. Rosenfeldt’s long-term vision is clear: to become the region’s premier destination for dental sleep medicine. That vision is already well underway.
What Is Sleep Dentistry and Who Needs It?
Sleep dentistry is a specialty area focused on diagnosing and treating sleep-disordered breathing through dental and airway-based interventions. It’s distinct from sedation dentistry, which simply helps anxious patients relax during procedures. Sleep dentistry addresses the structural and muscular causes of conditions like obstructive sleep apnea, chronic snoring, and TMJ-related pain, and the patients who need it are often adults who have been passed from provider to provider without real resolution.
Sleep Apnea Is More Common Than You Think
Obstructive sleep apnea affects an estimated 30 million people in the United States, yet the majority of cases go undiagnosed. Patients in rural and semi-rural areas, like much of North Dakota, face an additional challenge: limited access to specialists who are trained in both the medical and dental dimensions of airway health. That gap is precisely the space Serenity Valley is built to fill. Dr. Rosenfeldt collaborates with sleep medicine physicians and hospital occupational therapists throughout the region to ensure patients receive coordinated care rather than just a referral and a pamphlet.
A Referral Network Built on Trust
The VA refers veterans with sleep-disordered breathing to Serenity Valley because of our specialized credentials and track record of results. Sleep medicine physicians in the area send patients who can’t tolerate CPAP therapy. Hospital OTs and PTs refer patients whose jaw dysfunction is affecting their daily function and recovery. This kind of multi-directional referral network doesn’t happen by accident; it reflects years of Dr. Rosenfeldt building relationships with providers who share a whole-body philosophy toward patient care.
Sleep Services Offered at Serenity Valley Family Dentistry
Serenity Valley offers a comprehensive suite of sleep dentistry services, each supported by advanced technology and an integrated care team. Whether you’re newly diagnosed with sleep apnea or you’ve been struggling for years without a workable solution, there is a pathway here designed for your specific situation.
The core sleep dentistry services at Serenity Valley include:
- Sleep Apnea Treatment: Custom oral appliance therapy for patients diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, including options for those who have tried and failed CPAP.
- TMJ/TMD Treatment: A comprehensive whole-body approach that incorporates custom splint therapy and the Fotona Lightwalker laser for photobiomodulation treatment, addressing jaw pain, clicking, and headaches at their root cause.
- CPAP Alternatives: For patients who find CPAP therapy uncomfortable or difficult to maintain, oral appliance therapy offers an evidence-based, FDA-approved alternative that fits in the palm of your hand.
- Laser Snore Therapy: Using advanced laser technology, this non-surgical treatment gently tightens and tones the soft tissue of the palate and throat to reduce the vibration that causes snoring.
Each of these services is performed by Dr. Rosenfeldt personally, with the precision and depth of training you would expect from a credentialed dental sleep medicine specialist.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Sleep Dentistry?
Sleep dentistry at Serenity Valley is designed for patients who have been struggling without answers. You may be a good fit if any of the following applies to you.
Diagnosed with Sleep Apnea
Patients with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea are strong candidates for oral appliance therapy as a first-line treatment.
Cannot Tolerate CPAP
If you have tried CPAP and find it too uncomfortable, noisy, or disruptive to continue, a custom oral appliance may be your answer.
Chronic Snoring
Loud, habitual snoring that disrupts your sleep or your partner's can often be addressed with laser snore therapy or an oral appliance.
Jaw Pain or TMJ Symptoms
Patients experiencing jaw clicking, morning headaches, facial tension, or limited jaw movement may benefit from our whole-body TMJ approach.
Referred by a Physician
Many of our patients arrive on referral from sleep physicians, primary care doctors, the VA, or hospital occupational therapists.
Airway Concerns in Children
Dr. Rosenfeldt also evaluates children with suspected sleep-disordered breathing, mouth breathing, or related developmental concerns.
What to Expect at Your First Sleep Dentistry Appointment
Step 1: Comprehensive Consultation
Dr. Rosenfeldt begins with a thorough review of your sleep history, symptoms, and any prior studies or treatments. This is not a quick screen — it is a detailed clinical conversation designed to understand the full picture of your health.
Step 2: Sleep Study Coordination
If you do not yet have a formal sleep study, Dr. Rosenfeldt will coordinate with a sleep physician to get you the diagnosis you need before any treatment begins. A proper diagnosis is the foundation of effective care.
Step 3: Personalized Treatment Plan
Once your diagnosis is confirmed, Dr. Rosenfeldt will recommend the most appropriate treatment — whether that is a custom oral appliance, laser snore therapy, TMJ splint therapy, or a combination approach tailored to your situation.
Step 4: Ongoing Monitoring and Follow-Up
Treatment with Dr. Rosenfeldt is not a one-time visit. We monitor your progress, fine-tune your appliance over time, and collaborate with your medical team to ensure you are getting real, lasting results.
The Whole-Body Approach That Sets Serenity Valley Apart
One of the most distinctive elements of care at Serenity Valley is the integration of physical therapy into the treatment model. Tom Tardif, a doctoral-level physical therapist who travels monthly from Alexandria to see patients at the practice, works alongside Dr. Rosenfeldt to address the musculoskeletal factors that drive jaw dysfunction and airway problems. The jaw doesn’t exist in isolation; the position of someone’s ribs, the way they breathe, and the tension in their neck muscles can all contribute to TMJ pain and disordered sleep. This collaborative model is rare in a dental setting and reflects the depth of care patients can expect here.
Technology That Matches Our Mission
Dr. Rosenfeldt uses the Fotona Lightwalker laser for TMJ photobiomodulation therapy and the Solea laser for additional soft tissue procedures. These are not commonly found in general dental offices and are a meaningful investment in technology that allows for more precise, less invasive treatment outcomes. For patients who have been told that surgery is their only option for snoring or jaw pain, this technology often opens new doors.
Ready to Sleep Better? Start Here.
Serenity Valley accepts insurance and offers financing through iCare Financial. Most sleep apnea treatments are covered under medical insurance, not dental. Our team will help you maximize your benefits.
Schedule a ConsultationSerenity Valley Family Dentistry: Fargo's Regional Leader in Sleep Dentistry
Serenity Valley Family Dentistry has been serving the Fargo community since 2006, guided by a philosophy of connecting, guiding, and supporting patients toward their highest overall well-being. Dr. Rosenfeldt’s transition into dental sleep medicine wasn’t driven by market opportunity; it grew from personal experience with her own children’s airway health, and a recognition of how profoundly sleep affects every aspect of life. That authenticity shows up in every patient interaction, from the first consultation through the ongoing management of complex cases. Our team, including Dr. Erickson as associate dentist and Dr Tardif as our visiting physical therapy specialist, brings a depth of expertise that is genuinely hard to find in this region.
If you or someone you care about is struggling with sleep apnea, chronic snoring, jaw pain, or a CPAP mask you can’t tolerate, Serenity Valley is ready to help. Contact our office to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward restorative, genuinely restful sleep.
