Sleep & Airway
Oral appliance therapy and airway-focused dentistry for snoring, obstructive sleep apnea, and sleep-disordered breathing, a comfortable CPAP alternative custom-made for your mouth.
Oral Appliance Therapy
A custom-fit oral appliance that gently repositions the jaw to keep the airway open during sleep, small, silent, and travel-friendly.
Oral appliance therapy uses a custom-mandibular advancement device to hold the lower jaw slightly forward during sleep, preventing the airway from collapsing. For patients who cannot tolerate a CPAP machine, it is a proven, comfortable alternative for mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea.
The appliance is small enough to fit in a pocket, makes no noise, and requires no electricity or hose, making it ideal for travel and for partners who lose sleep to a CPAP mask. Many patients wear it consistently because it is simply more comfortable than the alternatives.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea interrupts breathing dozens of times an hour, and most people never know they have it.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) causes the airway to collapse repeatedly during sleep, dropping blood oxygen and fragmenting rest. Left untreated, it raises the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and chronic fatigue. Common signs include loud snoring, waking gasping, morning headaches, and daytime sleepiness.
We work alongside your physician to screen for sleep apnea and provide oral appliance therapy as part of a coordinated treatment plan. If a sleep study confirms OSA, a custom appliance can be an effective, comfortable treatment, alone or alongside a CPAP.
Airway Screening
Airway issues often show up in the mouth long before they show up in a sleep study.
A narrow arch, scalloped tongue, teeth grinding, and mouth breathing are all early signs of a restricted airway. Our airway screening evaluates these markers at every dental visit, for children and adults alike, so we can flag concerns before they become serious.
In children, early airway screening can catch sleep-disordered breathing that affects growth, behavior, and focus. In adults, it can reveal the root cause of chronic grinding, jaw pain, and poor sleep.
Sleep Questions
For mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea, oral appliance therapy is as effective as CPAP for many patients. For severe apnea, CPAP remains the first-line treatment, but an appliance can be used alongside it or when CPAP is not tolerated. We coordinate with your sleep physician to find the right approach.
Oral appliance therapy for diagnosed sleep apnea is typically billed to your medical insurance rather than dental insurance. Many plans cover a significant portion. We help verify your benefits and file on your behalf.
Common signs include loud snoring, witnessed breathing pauses, waking gasping or choking, morning headaches, and daytime sleepiness. A definitive diagnosis requires a sleep study, which we can help coordinate with your physician.
Yes. Mouth breathing, snoring, and restless sleep in children are often signs of a restricted airway or sleep-disordered breathing, which can affect growth, behavior, and focus. Early airway screening and arch development can make a meaningful difference.
Learn about our airway-focused orthodonticsBook an airway consultation to discuss your snoring, sleep concerns, or CPAP struggles, we'll review your options with your physician.
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