Medically Reviewed by Dr. Laura Sharbash, DDS, FAGD, D.ABDSM
Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition in which the airway becomes partially or fully blocked during sleep, causing repeated pauses in breathing throughout the night. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, the condition affects more than 24 million adults in the United States, and an estimated 90 percent of cases go undiagnosed. Left untreated, it can lead to serious health concerns, including heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes, which is part of why an accurate diagnosis matters as much as treatment itself.
At Newport Beach Dental Center, Dr. Laura Sharbash, DDS, FAGD, D.ABDSM, holds a Diplomate credential from the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine and offers a personalized approach to managing obstructive sleep apnea. Dr. Sharbash provides custom-made oral appliances as part of our sleep apnea treatment options, designed to keep the airway open and help many patients achieve more restful, uninterrupted sleep.
How Is Obstructive Sleep Apnea Diagnosed?
Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the muscles at the back of your throat relax too much during sleep, causing your airway to become partially or fully blocked. This blockage interrupts your breathing, sometimes hundreds of times a night, leading to restless sleep and other issues like snoring, gasping for air, or waking up frequently.
People with OSA often feel tired during the day, even after what seems like a full night’s sleep. Snoring is a common symptom, but not everyone who snores has sleep apnea, which is why recognizing the full range of signs, including daytime fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and mood changes, matters as much as noticing the snoring itself.
Diagnosing OSA typically starts with a sleep study, either in a lab or at home. This test monitors your breathing, oxygen levels, and heart rate while you sleep to assess for sleep apnea. Dr. Laura Sharbash can help identify possible signs of OSA during a routine dental exam, and if needed, she can refer you for further testing to confirm the diagnosis.
What Are the Warning Signs of Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
Beyond loud, frequent snoring, several other signs can point toward OSA rather than ordinary tiredness. Waking up gasping or choking, morning headaches, a dry mouth upon waking, and difficulty concentrating during the day are all common indicators. Partners often notice the breathing pauses before the person experiencing them does, since these episodes happen during sleep and are easy to miss otherwise. If several of these signs sound familiar, it is worth bringing them up at your next dental or medical appointment rather than waiting for symptoms to worsen.
Who Is at Risk for Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
OSA can affect anyone, but certain factors raise the likelihood of developing it. Excess weight, particularly around the neck, narrows the airway and increases the chance of it collapsing during sleep. Age plays a role too, since the condition becomes more common as muscle tone in the throat naturally decreases over time. A family history of sleep apnea, a naturally narrow airway or recessed jaw, chronic nasal congestion, and smoking all raise your risk as well. Men are diagnosed more often than women, though the gap narrows after menopause, which suggests hormonal factors are also part of the picture. Recognizing these risk factors can help you and your dental or medical provider decide whether a sleep evaluation makes sense, even before more obvious symptoms appear.
How Is Obstructive Sleep Apnea Treated?
Treating obstructive sleep apnea involves a range of options, and the right approach depends on the severity of the condition and your individual needs. Treatment options range from lifestyle adjustments to medical devices and, in some cases, surgery.
Lifestyle Changes
For individuals with mild OSA, certain lifestyle changes can meaningfully improve symptoms by targeting factors that contribute to airway obstruction during sleep. These commonly include the following:
- Losing excess weight, especially around the neck, to reduce pressure on the airway
- Sleeping on your side instead of your back to help prevent the airway from collapsing
- Avoiding alcohol and sedatives, which relax the throat muscles and increase the likelihood of blockages
- Quitting smoking to reduce airway inflammation and irritation
While lifestyle changes alone are unlikely to resolve moderate to severe OSA, they are often a helpful part of a broader treatment plan.
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Therapy
CPAP therapy is the gold standard for treating moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea. A CPAP machine delivers continuous air pressure through a mask worn over the nose or mouth, keeping the airway open during sleep. While highly effective, CPAP can be uncomfortable for some patients, and common issues include mask discomfort, noise, and difficulty adjusting to wearing the device. Despite these challenges, consistent use of a CPAP machine can meaningfully improve sleep quality and reduce the health risks associated with OSA.
Oral Appliance Therapy
For patients who have trouble with CPAP or prefer a more comfortable, less invasive option, oral appliance therapy is a strong alternative. Custom-fitted by a dentist, these devices reposition the lower jaw and tongue to help keep the airway open while you sleep. At Newport Beach Dental Center, Dr. Laura Sharbash provides custom oral appliances for sleep apnea that are small, easy to use, and much quieter than a CPAP machine. Many patients find an oral appliance to be a more practical solution for long-term management of their OSA, particularly if they travel frequently or find a CPAP mask uncomfortable. You can compare the two approaches directly in our guide to oral appliance therapy versus CPAP treatment.
What Happens if Obstructive Sleep Apnea Goes Untreated?
Untreated OSA does more than disrupt sleep. The repeated drops in oxygen and the stress placed on the cardiovascular system night after night are linked to a higher long-term risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. Daytime fatigue from fragmented sleep can also affect concentration, mood, and reaction time, which carries its own safety implications. You can read more about the specific risks of ignoring sleep apnea symptoms and the health benefits that come with getting the condition properly treated.
Sleep Hygiene and Sleep Apnea Are Not the Same Thing
It is worth distinguishing OSA from ordinary poor sleep habits. General sleep hygiene, meaning your sleep schedule, bedroom environment, and bedtime routine, can meaningfully improve sleep quality for many people, and we cover those habits in more detail in our guide to simple steps for sound sleep. However, sleep hygiene changes alone will not resolve OSA, since the underlying issue is a physical airway obstruction rather than a habit problem. If you have already tried improving your sleep habits and still experience the symptoms described above, an airway evaluation is the more appropriate next step.
Improve Your Sleep With Newport Beach Dental Center
If you are struggling with restless sleep, daytime fatigue, or frequent snoring, you may be dealing with obstructive sleep apnea. Addressing this condition can meaningfully improve not only your sleep but also your overall health and energy levels. At Newport Beach Dental Center, we offer custom-fitted oral appliances designed to help you breathe easier and sleep more soundly.
Dr. Laura Sharbash, DDS, FAGD, D.ABDSM, brings extensive experience in treating sleep apnea with non-invasive, comfortable solutions tailored to your specific needs. Reach out through our online contact form to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward better sleep.
Frequently Asked Questions About Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Is snoring the same as sleep apnea?
No, snoring and obstructive sleep apnea are related but distinct. Snoring alone does not necessarily mean the airway is fully blocked, while sleep apnea involves repeated pauses in breathing along with the sound of snoring. A sleep study is the most reliable way to tell the difference between simple snoring and true obstructive sleep apnea.
Can obstructive sleep apnea be cured?
OSA is generally managed rather than cured, though some patients see significant improvement with weight loss or other lifestyle changes if those factors were contributing to the condition. Most patients rely on ongoing treatment, whether that is CPAP therapy or oral appliance therapy, to keep the airway open consistently during sleep.
Is oral appliance therapy as effective as CPAP?
CPAP is generally considered the gold standard for moderate to severe OSA, but oral appliance therapy can be an effective alternative for many patients, particularly those with mild to moderate cases or those who cannot tolerate a CPAP mask consistently. Consistent nightly use matters more than which device is chosen, so the more comfortable option for you may lead to better long-term results.
Can a dentist really diagnose sleep apnea?
A dentist cannot formally diagnose sleep apnea, but dentists are often the first healthcare providers to notice warning signs during a routine exam, such as teeth grinding, a scalloped tongue, or a narrow airway. When those signs are present, we can refer you for a sleep study with a physician to confirm a diagnosis.
What happens if obstructive sleep apnea goes untreated?
Untreated OSA is linked to a higher long-term risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes, along with daytime fatigue that can affect concentration and safety. The repeated drops in oxygen during sleep place ongoing stress on the cardiovascular system, which is part of why an accurate diagnosis and consistent treatment matter.
