SLEEP APNEA TREATMENT · BETHESDA, MD

Sleep through the night. Feel like yourself in the morning.

If obstructive sleep apnea or chronic snoring is keeping you — or the person beside you — from sleeping well, a custom oral appliance may offer a quiet, comfortable way to help keep your airway open while you sleep.

No mask. No hose. A custom appliance made to fit your mouth and your treatment plan.

WHEN TO HAVE IT CHECKED

Six signs a tooth may need a little help.

Not every cavity or damaged filling hurts. Sometimes the first clue is simply that a tooth looks, feels or bites differently than it used to.

Loud, persistent snoring

Frequent or irregular snoring can be one of the most noticeable signs that airflow is becoming restricted during sleep.

Pauses in your breathing

A partner may notice moments when your breathing seems to stop and then suddenly starts again.

Waking up gasping

Choking, snorting or waking suddenly to catch your breath can be associated with interrupted nighttime breathing.

Tired all day

Feeling excessively sleepy or drained despite spending enough hours in bed can be a sign that your sleep is being repeatedly disrupted.

Dry mouth or morning headaches

A filling that feels rough, loose or damaged should be checked before the surrounding tooth is affected.

Trouble staying focused

Poor-quality, fragmented sleep can leave you feeling foggy, less alert or unable to concentrate as well during the day.

Snoring doesn’t automatically mean sleep apnea — but it can be worth looking into.

Your dentist can help spot signs of obstructive sleep apnea. Your physician or sleep specialist confirms the diagnosis. Then we can work together on the right treatment.

UNDERSTANDING SLEEP APNEA

Not all sleep apnea works the same way — and not all of it is treated by a dentist.

There are two main types of sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs when the upper airway repeatedly narrows or collapses during sleep, reducing or stopping airflow. Central sleep apnea (CSA) is different: breathing is interrupted because the brain does not consistently send the signals needed to breathe.

Dental sleep medicine focuses on obstructive sleep apnea. A custom oral appliance can gently hold the lower jaw in a more forward position while you sleep, helping reduce collapse of the soft tissues and maintain a more open airway.

But recognizing possible OSA and diagnosing it are two different things. A dentist can screen for signs and risk factors; diagnosis is made by a physician or trained sleep specialist using a comprehensive evaluation and, when appropriate, sleep testing.

WHERE DENTAL SLEEP CARE FITS

The right treatment starts with the right diagnosis.

Oral appliance therapy works best as part of coordinated care — from identifying a possible problem to fitting the device and checking that it continues to work comfortably.

Screening & Referral

We can review your sleep concerns, health history and oral anatomy for signs that may suggest obstructive sleep apnea and help guide you toward appropriate medical evaluation.

Custom Oral Appliance

A custom, titratable oral appliance is made to fit over your teeth and gently position the jaw forward to help keep the upper airway more open during sleep.

Adjustment & Follow-Up

Your appliance may be gradually adjusted for comfort and effectiveness, while we monitor your teeth, jaw and bite and coordinate appropriate follow-up with your sleep physician.

ORAL APPLIANCE THERAPY · STEP BY STEP

From restless nights to a treatment you can actually sleep with.

If you haven’t already been diagnosed, we’ll help direct you toward a physician or sleep specialist for the evaluation and sleep testing needed to determine whether you have OSA.

Once oral appliance therapy is prescribed, we evaluate your teeth and jaw and create a custom device designed to fit comfortably and position your jaw appropriately.

We fine-tune the appliance, monitor your comfort and bite over time and coordinate follow-up testing with your sleep physician to confirm that treatment is working.

What patients say

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Better sleep shouldn’t feel out of reach.

If oral appliance therapy is appropriate for you, our team can help you understand your coverage and payment options. Cherry, Sunbit, Proceed and Care Credit financing is available for eligible treatment with no hard credit check · approval in seconds · and plans from 3 to 24 months.

Still waking up tired after a full night in bed?

If snoring, interrupted breathing or daytime sleepiness has you wondering whether sleep apnea could be part of the problem, start the conversation. We’ll help you understand where dental sleep care may fit.