A full night of restorative sleep is essential to physical and mental well-being. When breathing repeatedly stops or becomes shallow during sleep, the body is deprived of oxygen and the deep restorative cycles that restore energy, memory, and cardiovascular health. An estimated 25 million adults in the United States are affected by obstructive sleep apnea, and many more experience disruptive snoring that signals compromised airflow. At Addison Dental Studio, we provide professional evaluation and dental sleep medicine options designed to help you and your family sleep more safely and wake more refreshed.
Sleep apnea is a medical condition characterized by repeated interruptions in breathing during sleep. These pauses—called apneas—or shallow breathing events, known as hypopneas, fragment sleep and reduce oxygen delivery to the body. Over time, this pattern increases strain on the heart and nervous system and interferes with the essential restorative stages of sleep.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the most common form, happens when soft tissues in the back of the throat collapse or the jaw position restricts the airway. Central sleep apnea, a less common type, stems from the brain failing to send consistent signals to the respiratory muscles. Regardless of type, the downstream effects on concentration, mood, metabolic health, and cardiovascular risk are significant and deserve careful attention.
Recognizing the condition early matters because even mild sleep-disordered breathing can worsen over time. Addressing breathing interruptions during sleep is not just about reducing snoring; it’s about restoring safe, uninterrupted breathing that supports daytime functioning and long-term health.
Many people first notice sleep apnea because of loud, chronic snoring or reports from a bed partner that breathing stops during the night. Other nocturnal signs include gasping or choking awakenings, restless sleep, and frequent nighttime urination. Even when sleep appears continuous, the quality can be so poor that daytime performance suffers.
Daytime symptoms are often the first clue: excessive sleepiness, trouble concentrating, memory lapses, morning headaches, irritability, and a general lack of energy. People with untreated sleep apnea also face higher rates of high blood pressure, glucose regulation issues, and mood disturbances. If you or a loved one experiences a cluster of these symptoms, it’s appropriate to seek evaluation.
Because symptoms vary between individuals and can be subtle, dental professionals are increasingly involved in screening. A dental exam offers an opportunity to observe airway anatomy, tooth and jaw position, and risk factors such as a small jaw, enlarged tonsils, or a high body mass index—information that helps guide the next steps toward diagnosis.
Confirming sleep apnea typically requires objective testing. A physician—often a sleep medicine specialist—will recommend a sleep study, which can be performed in a sleep laboratory (polysomnography) or, in many cases, as a validated home sleep apnea test. These studies measure breathing patterns, oxygen levels, heart rate, and sleep stages to determine the presence and severity of the disorder.
Once the results are in, a medical provider interprets the data and develops a treatment plan. Dentists and physicians frequently collaborate: the medical provider leads diagnosis and overall management while dental professionals contribute expertise in oral appliance therapy and monitoring for dental-related side effects. This team approach ensures that care is both comprehensive and coordinated.
For prospective patients, understanding that a formal diagnosis is the first important step helps set expectations. Screening by your dentist can fast-track a referral to a sleep physician if the signs point toward sleep-disordered breathing.
Treatment begins with strategies that address contributing factors and patient preferences. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) remains the gold standard for moderate to severe OSA: it delivers pressurized air through a mask to keep the airway open during sleep. For some patients, lifestyle measures such as weight management, improved sleep hygiene, avoidance of alcohol near bedtime, and positional therapy can meaningfully reduce symptoms, especially in milder cases.
Surgical options exist for anatomically based obstructions, but these are considered selectively and are best evaluated by an ENT surgeon or sleep specialist. The goal of any therapy is consistent, nightly use and measurable improvement in oxygenation and sleep architecture, because intermittent treatment offers limited long-term benefit.
Choosing the right pathway often depends on severity, tolerance for specific therapies, and coexisting health conditions. The most effective plan is individualized, monitored for outcomes, and adjusted over time to maintain safety and comfort.
Oral appliance therapy offers a proven alternative for many people with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea or for those who cannot tolerate CPAP. These custom devices resemble a mouthguard and gently reposition the lower jaw and tongue to prevent airway collapse. When properly designed and fitted, oral appliances reduce the frequency of apneas and snoring while being easy to wear for many users.
There are several appliance styles—mandibular advancement devices (MADs) and tongue-stabilizing devices among them—and the choice depends on airway anatomy, dental status, and comfort. A dental sleep medicine evaluation includes a careful oral exam, bite records, and impressions so the appliance fits precisely and functions effectively while minimizing unwanted tooth movement or jaw strain.
Long-term success requires follow-up. Regular reviews allow for fine-tuning of device settings, assessment of dental health, and measurement of symptom improvement. When oral appliance therapy is combined with ongoing communication with your sleep physician, it becomes an integrated, evidence-based option in a patient-centered management plan.
A typical oral appliance journey begins with a consultation that evaluates symptoms, reviews previous testing, and examines oral and jaw anatomy. If an appliance is appropriate, the dentist will take detailed impressions and bite records to create a custom device. Initial fitting focuses on comfort and achieving the jaw position that best opens the airway without causing undue strain.
After delivery, patients often need one or more adjustment visits to optimize comfort and effectiveness. Because appliances change how the teeth meet and load the jaw joint, periodic dental monitoring is essential to detect and manage changes to the bite, tooth movement, or temporomandibular joint symptoms. Collaboration between your dentist and sleep physician ensures that sleep measures—like daytime sleepiness and, if applicable, follow-up sleep testing—confirm therapeutic benefit.
When properly managed, oral appliance therapy can offer a restful, convenient alternative that restores better sleep while preserving oral health. If you already use CPAP but are struggling with adherence, discussing oral appliance options with your sleep team can often provide a practical path forward.
If you suspect sleep-disordered breathing or have been diagnosed and want to explore dental options, contact us to learn how dental sleep medicine could be part of a safe, coordinated treatment plan tailored to your needs.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a disorder in which the airway repeatedly narrows or collapses during sleep, causing pauses in breathing or very shallow breaths. These interruptions fragment sleep and reduce oxygen delivery to tissues, which over time can increase strain on the cardiovascular and nervous systems. Untreated OSA is associated with daytime sleepiness, impaired concentration, higher blood pressure, and a greater risk of metabolic and cardiovascular problems.
Recognizing OSA early is important because even mild forms can worsen and contribute to long-term health consequences. Evaluation and treatment aim to restore safe, uninterrupted breathing and improve overall sleep architecture. A coordinated approach that addresses anatomy, lifestyle factors, and medical management offers the best chance of reducing risk and improving daytime function.
Common nighttime signs include loud, chronic snoring, observed pauses in breathing, gasping or choking awakenings, and restless or fragmented sleep. Daytime clues often involve excessive sleepiness, difficulty concentrating, morning headaches, irritability, and a persistent lack of energy despite adequate time in bed. A bed partner or household member frequently notices breathing interruptions first, but patients often report daytime decline as the most disruptive consequence.
Because symptoms vary and can be subtle, screening during routine dental or medical visits is helpful, especially when risk factors such as obesity, large neck circumference, nasal obstruction, or jaw anatomy are present. If you or a loved one has a cluster of these signs, pursuing a formal evaluation can identify whether sleep-disordered breathing is the cause. Early assessment increases the likelihood of effective, tailored treatment.
Diagnosis typically requires objective testing ordered by a physician, often a sleep medicine specialist. Testing may be completed in a sleep laboratory with full polysomnography or at home using an accredited home sleep apnea test, both of which measure breathing patterns, oxygen levels, and related parameters to determine severity.
Once testing is complete, a medical provider interprets the results and recommends an individualized plan. Dentists play a complementary role by screening patients, assessing oral and jaw anatomy, and collaborating with physicians when oral appliance therapy is an appropriate part of treatment.
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) remains the most widely recommended therapy for moderate to severe OSA because it reliably keeps the airway open during sleep. Lifestyle interventions such as weight management, improved sleep hygiene, positional therapy, and avoiding alcohol before bedtime can meaningfully reduce symptoms in milder cases and support other treatments.
Surgical options are considered for specific anatomic causes and are evaluated by ENT surgeons or sleep specialists on a case-by-case basis. The best treatment plan is individualized, monitored for effectiveness, and adjusted over time to ensure consistent nightly benefit and improved sleep quality.
Oral appliances are custom devices worn in the mouth during sleep that gently reposition the lower jaw and tongue to keep the airway open. Mandibular advancement devices (MADs) are the most common type and have strong evidence supporting their use for patients with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea or those who cannot tolerate CPAP therapy.
Good candidates typically have an appropriate dental foundation, sufficient jaw mobility, and mild to moderate OSA or CPAP intolerance. A dental sleep medicine evaluation assesses oral health, bite alignment, and airway anatomy to determine whether an oral appliance is a suitable and safe option.
The fitting process begins with a consultation to review symptoms and prior sleep testing, followed by a dental exam, impressions, and bite records to create a custom device. The initial fitting focuses on comfort and achieving the jaw position that opens the airway while minimizing strain on the jaw joints and teeth.
After delivery, patients usually return for one or more adjustment visits to optimize fit and effectiveness, and ongoing dental monitoring is recommended to detect bite changes or jaw discomfort. Collaboration with your sleep physician allows the team to track symptom improvement and, when needed, perform follow-up testing to confirm therapeutic benefit.
Oral appliance therapy is generally well tolerated, but potential side effects can include temporary jaw soreness, tooth discomfort, salivation changes, and gradual changes in bite or tooth position. Most short-term discomfort is manageable with adjustments, and many patients adapt within days to weeks of nightly use.
Because appliances can alter how the teeth meet and load the temporomandibular joints, regular dental follow-up is important to monitor and address any long-term changes. When managed proactively through periodic exams and communication with the sleep physician, risks are minimized and therapeutic outcomes are optimized.
Oral appliances are an alternative to CPAP for many patients, and they are especially useful for those who cannot tolerate CPAP masks or pressure settings. Some patients use a combined approach, where CPAP remains primary but an oral appliance is considered for travel, backup, or complementing other therapies under medical guidance.
If you struggle with CPAP adherence, discuss oral appliance options with your sleep team; coordinated evaluation helps determine whether switching to or adding an oral device is appropriate based on symptom control and objective sleep measures. Any change in therapy should be followed by monitoring to ensure continued safety and efficacy.
Effective sleep apnea management often relies on a team approach that includes a sleep medicine physician, an ENT when anatomy requires surgical evaluation, and a dentist trained in dental sleep medicine when oral appliances are considered. The physician typically leads diagnosis and overall medical management, while the dentist designs, fits, and monitors oral devices and oral health impacts.
Regular communication between providers ensures that treatments are coordinated, outcomes are tracked, and any adjustments are made based on symptoms or follow-up testing. This collaborative model improves patient safety, adherence, and long-term results.
Before your appointment, gather any records of prior sleep studies, notes from your primary care provider or sleep specialist, and a list of symptoms or observations from a bed partner if available. Be prepared to discuss medical history, current medications, and lifestyle factors such as alcohol use, sleep patterns, and weight changes that can influence sleep-disordered breathing.
During the consultation the dental team will evaluate your oral and jaw anatomy, review screening findings, and discuss next steps which may include a referral for formal sleep testing or a coordinated plan with your physician. Clear communication and relevant records help the practice provide a targeted, evidence-based recommendation tailored to your needs.
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