Why Sleep Apnea Matters
Obstructive sleep apnea happens when the soft tissues at the back of your throat relax during sleep and briefly close off your airway, over and over through the night. Loud snoring, gasping awake, morning headaches, and feeling exhausted after a full night are common clues. It is worth taking seriously because untreated sleep apnea is linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, and daytime drowsiness behind the wheel.
A Comfortable, CPAP-Free Option
For snoring and mild to moderate sleep apnea, we offer custom oral appliance therapy. The appliance is a small, custom-fit mouthpiece, a bit like a sports guard, that you wear only while you sleep. It gently holds your lower jaw forward just enough to keep your airway open. Many people find it far easier to live with than a CPAP machine, it is quiet, travels easily, and needs no power or mask.
Working With Your Physician
Sleep apnea is a medical condition, so we work hand in hand with your physician and the sleep specialists right on the Sentara RMH medical campus next door. A proper diagnosis through a sleep study comes first, then we craft your appliance from precise digital impressions and fine-tune the fit. This team approach means your dental care and your medical care stay on the same page.
Follow-Up and Fine-Tuning
Getting the appliance is just the start. We check the fit and how well it is working at your follow-up visits and make small adjustments so you get the most benefit and stay comfortable. When the right appliance is dialed in, many patients tell us they finally sleep through the night, and wake up feeling like themselves again.