Waking up exhausted after a full night in bed is more than just an inconvenience. It is often the body’s way of signaling that breathing is being interrupted dozens of times each night without you ever knowing it.
Newport Beach Dental Center helps Costa Mesa patients understand what is actually happening while they sleep, and offers a comfortable way to deal with it that does not require a mask or a machine. Led by Dr. Laura Sharbash, DDS, FAGD, D.ABDSM, our practice treats obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) with custom oral appliances designed to fit comfortably and work quietly while you rest.
Many patients diagnosed with OSA are told that a CPAP machine is their only option. While CPAP remains an effective treatment for some, it is not the right fit for everyone. The mask, hose, and nightly setup can be uncomfortable, and a significant number of patients stop using their machine altogether within the first year.
Oral appliance therapy offers another route. A custom-fitted device, similar in size to an athletic mouthguard, gently repositions the jaw to keep the airway open through the night. There is no machine to carry, no mask to adjust, and no cord to manage. For those who travel frequently between Costa Mesa, South Coast Plaza, and beyond, or who simply want a quieter bedroom, this difference matters. We thoroughly explain how oral appliances compare to CPAP treatment during every consultation so patients understand exactly how the treatment fits their lifestyle.
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Costa Mesa residents deserve access to a provider who treats sleep apnea as a primary focus rather than an occasional add-on. Dr. Sharbash holds the Diplomate credential from the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine, a distinction earned by a relatively small number of dentists nationwide and one that reflects advanced, ongoing training specifically in sleep-related breathing disorders.
That focus shapes how we approach every case. Rather than handing patients a generic appliance, we evaluate jaw structure, airway anatomy, and the severity of each patient’s OSA to determine the right device and the right adjustment schedule. Patients in the Costa Mesa area, from those near the OC Fair & Event Center to residents throughout the surrounding neighborhoods, have come to us specifically because no other practice nearby offers this level of dedicated sleep apnea expertise.
Getting started with oral appliance therapy is much simpler than most patients expect. After reviewing sleep study results and discussing symptoms, we take precise digital impressions to design an appliance that fits your bite exactly. Once the device arrives, we schedule follow-up visits to fine-tune the fit and confirm that it is effectively keeping the airway open.
Ongoing monitoring is a core part of the process, and patients often have questions before their first visit. We answer many of them directly during an initial consultation, including:
Those who are considering treatment for the first time often want a clearer sense of the entire process, and reviewing what to expect during a first sleep apnea consultation can help. Left unaddressed, untreated OSA carries risks that extend well beyond daytime fatigue, affecting cardiovascular health and overall well-being over time.
Sleep apnea is not simply a matter of feeling tired after a night of sleep. Research from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute has linked obstructive sleep apnea to dramatically higher rates of cardiovascular disease, with recent NIH-funded estimates suggesting that roughly 54 million adults in the United States have the condition and face increased cardiovascular risk as a result. That research reinforces something we see regularly in practice: patients who address their OSA early tend to report better energy, clearer focus, and improved overall health compared with those who let symptoms go unmanaged.
Since so many cases go undiagnosed, we encourage anyone experiencing loud snoring, morning headaches, or persistent daytime fatigue to bring it up during a routine dental visit. Sleep apnea often shows physical signs in the mouth and jaw that a trained dentist can identify well before a formal sleep study confirms the diagnosis.
If snoring, restless nights, or unexplained daytime exhaustion have become part of your routine, it may be time to find out what is really happening while you sleep. Dr. Sharbash and our team have helped Costa Mesa patients move away from bulky CPAP machines and toward a treatment they can actually stick with, one custom appliance at a time.
Reach out to Newport Beach Dental Center today to schedule a sleep apnea consultation and learn whether oral appliance therapy is the right fit for you. Our team is ready to answer your questions and help you get started on finally getting better rest.
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