Loud snoring, gasping in the night, and waking up tired after a full eight hours in bed can all be signs that your airway is struggling while you sleep. Sleep apnea happens when the muscles at the back of your throat relax and soft tissue blocks your airway, sometimes hundreds of times a night. Many people go years without learning that a dentist can help.
At Newport Beach Dental Center, Dr. Laura Sharbash is a Doctor of Dental Surgery and a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry. She is also a Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine and an American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine Qualified Dentist, so she brings advanced sleep certification to every visit alongside our full range of dental services.
The type we treat is Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), which occurs when the muscles at the back of your throat relax during sleep, allowing soft tissue to collapse and block your airway. Each blockage can briefly wake you, which breaks up your sleep and lowers the oxygen in your blood. Over time, that cycle can strain your heart and blood vessels.
A review on the National Institutes of Health site notes that OSA can affect cardiovascular health, behavior, quality of life, and driving safety. Spotting the signs early may make treatment more straightforward, and you can read how sleep apnea can affect your overall health.
Several signs may point toward OSA, and noticing them early can help you get care before problems build.
If any of these sound familiar, an evaluation is a reasonable next step. Our guide to the risks of ignoring sleep apnea symptoms is a good place to start reading.
Oral appliance therapy is our main approach for mild to moderate OSA, and it can be a comfortable alternative if you cannot tolerate a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. We custom fit a small device that you wear like a retainer while you sleep. It gently moves your lower jaw forward to help keep your airway open.
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine published a joint guideline that recommends oral appliances for adults with OSA who are intolerant of CPAP or prefer another option. The same guideline says CPAP is still generally the first choice, so an oral appliance is not the right fit for every patient.
The table below compares the two options side by side.
| Oral Appliance | CPAP | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | A custom mouthpiece moves your lower jaw forward | A machine sends steady air pressure through a mask |
| Guideline stance | Recommended for adults with OSA who cannot tolerate CPAP or prefer another option | Generally the first-line treatment |
| What you wear | A small device in your mouth | A mask connected to a machine |
| Diagnosis first | Yes, from a sleep physician | Yes, from a sleep physician |
Our page on oral appliance therapy compared with CPAP treatment goes into more detail on this CPAP alternative, and the benefits of oral appliance therapy are worth a read too.
Knowing what comes next can make the process feel far less overwhelming, so here is how care typically unfolds.
Our guide to your first sleep apnea consultation covers what to expect at the first visit. If you already have a sleep study report from another provider, bring a copy so we can review it together.
Cost is one of the first questions patients ask, so we want to be upfront. At this time, oral appliance therapy is a self-pay service. We review the fee with you before treatment begins so you know what to expect.
OSA is a medical diagnosis, so your sleep study and physician visits may be handled through your health plan, and those rules vary by plan. We are glad to talk through payment options at your consultation.
Patients looking for a sleep apnea dentist come to our Newport Beach office from across Orange County, including Costa Mesa, Irvine, Huntington Beach, and Laguna Beach. Wherever you are coming from, you can expect a thorough evaluation, a clear explanation of your options, and a custom appliance built for your bite and airway.
Here are answers to questions we hear often.
If you snore loudly, wake up gasping, feel very sleepy during the day, or your partner notices pauses in your breathing, an evaluation is worth considering. A sleep study monitors your breathing, oxygen levels, heart rate, and movement while you sleep, either at home or in a lab. We can refer you for a study as part of your consultation.
A sleep physician makes the diagnosis, and a dentist can then provide the oral appliance. The joint guideline from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine says a qualified dentist should provide a custom, adjustable appliance for adults with OSA. Dr. Laura Sharbash is a Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine and an American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine Qualified Dentist.
Oral appliance therapy may be an option. The guideline recommends that sleep physicians consider it for adults who cannot tolerate CPAP or prefer another treatment. Bring a copy of your sleep study report so we can review it with you.
Every patient adjusts at their own pace. Some people notice minor jaw soreness or extra saliva at first. Follow-up visits let us check the fit, make adjustments, and watch for changes in your bite.
At this time, oral appliance therapy is a self-pay service. We review the fee and payment options with you before treatment begins.
Dr. Laura Sharbash is a Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine, an American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine Qualified Dentist, and a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry. She brings that background to every OSA evaluation we offer.
If you are ready to find out whether an oral appliance may help you sleep better, request an appointment through our contact form to get started.
Don’t let dental anxiety prevent you from getting the care you need. Schedule a sedation dentistry consultation with Dr. Sharbash today.
