Obstructive sleep apnea can interrupt breathing repeatedly during sleep, affecting sleep quality, daytime energy and overall health. At The Dental Studio, Dr. David Peterson and our team provide sleep apnea treatment in Sandy, Utah, through individualized dental care and collaboration with qualified sleep physicians.
Our dentist can evaluate oral and dental factors that may relate to breathing during sleep, coordinate at-home sleep testing and provide custom oral appliance therapy when it is appropriate for the patient’s diagnosis and treatment plan.
What Is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
Obstructive sleep apnea, commonly called OSA, occurs when the upper airway repeatedly narrows or closes during sleep. These interruptions can reduce airflow, disturb normal sleep cycles and cause repeated awakenings that the patient may not remember.
Possible signs of obstructive sleep apnea include:
- Frequent or loud snoring
- Gasping, choking or pauses in breathing during sleep
- Restless or unrefreshing sleep
- Waking with a dry mouth or sore throat
- Morning headaches
- Daytime fatigue or sleepiness
- Difficulty concentrating
- Irritability or mood changes
- Teeth grinding or clenching
- Frequent nighttime waking
Not everyone who snores has sleep apnea, and some patients with sleep apnea do not recognize obvious symptoms. A proper medical diagnosis is necessary before treatment is selected.
How Sleep Apnea Is Diagnosed
A dentist may recognize oral signs or symptoms that suggest a possible sleep-related breathing concern, but a physician diagnoses obstructive sleep apnea.
When Dr. Peterson identifies signs that warrant further evaluation, our practice can coordinate an at-home sleep study. The study is interpreted by a board-certified sleep physician, who can determine whether sleep apnea or another sleep-related breathing disorder is present.
The physician may consider factors such as:
- The number of breathing interruptions during sleep
- Changes in airflow and oxygen levels
- The severity of the condition
- Your symptoms and medical history
- Other health conditions that may affect treatment
Once a diagnosis is established, the physician and dental team can help determine whether oral appliance therapy or another treatment pathway is appropriate.
A Dental Evaluation for Sleep Apnea Treatment
Before providing an oral appliance, Dr. Peterson will evaluate your teeth, gums, bite, jaw joints and oral structures. This examination helps determine whether you are a suitable candidate and whether a custom appliance can be used safely.
Your evaluation may include:
- A review of your sleep study and physician’s diagnosis
- Discussion of snoring, fatigue and other symptoms
- Examination of your teeth and dental restorations
- Evaluation of your gums and supporting bone
- Assessment of your bite and jaw movement
- Review of TMJ discomfort or muscle tension
- Digital impressions or scans
- Additional imaging when clinically appropriate
Patients with untreated dental disease, limited jaw movement or certain TMJ concerns may need additional care before an appliance can be recommended.
Custom Oral Appliance Therapy
A sleep apnea oral appliance is a custom device worn during sleep. Many appliances are designed to hold the lower jaw in a position that helps support airflow through the upper airway.
Unlike an over-the-counter mouth guard, a sleep appliance is selected and fitted according to the patient’s teeth, bite, jaw function and medical diagnosis.
Potential benefits of custom oral appliance therapy include:
- Compact and portable design
- Quiet operation
- No mask or external air hose
- No electricity required
- Customized fit
- Adjustability when appropriate
- Convenience during travel
Oral appliances are not appropriate for every patient or every level of sleep apnea. The recommended treatment depends on your diagnosis, physician’s guidance, oral health and personal needs.
Vivos and HealthyStart Treatment Options
Our practice offers several airway-focused appliance systems, including Vivos® breathing wellness treatment and the HealthyStart® System.
These systems are not interchangeable and do not serve exactly the same purpose.
- Vivos treatment may be considered for qualifying adults or children with selected airway, oral-development or sleep-related concerns.
- HealthyStart is designed for qualifying children and may support dental development, oral function and healthy breathing habits.
- Mandibular advancement appliances may be prescribed for certain adults with physician-diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea.
Dr. Peterson will explain which appliance, if any, is appropriate based on the patient’s diagnosis, age, oral anatomy and treatment goals.
Oral Appliances Compared With CPAP
Continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP, uses pressurized air to help keep the airway open during sleep. It is commonly recommended for obstructive sleep apnea and may remain the most appropriate treatment for many patients.
Oral appliance therapy works differently. Rather than delivering air, the appliance changes the position of selected oral and jaw structures while it is being worn.
Some patients ask about an oral appliance because they:
- Have difficulty tolerating a CPAP mask
- Travel frequently
- Want a treatment that does not require electricity
- Have been referred by a physician for oral appliance therapy
- Need an additional option within a broader treatment plan
An oral appliance should not be treated as an automatic replacement for CPAP. Any change to a prescribed therapy should be discussed with the physician managing your sleep apnea.
Adjusting and Monitoring Your Sleep Appliance
After the appliance is delivered, Dr. Peterson will check its fit and explain how to insert, remove and clean it. Some appliances can be adjusted gradually to improve comfort and effectiveness.
Follow-up appointments allow our dentist to:
- Evaluate comfort and fit
- Adjust the appliance when appropriate
- Monitor your teeth and bite
- Check for jaw or muscle discomfort
- Discuss changes in snoring or sleep-related symptoms
- Coordinate follow-up testing with your physician
A reduction in snoring or daytime fatigue does not prove that the sleep apnea is fully controlled. Follow-up sleep testing may be recommended to determine how well the treatment is working.
Possible Side Effects of Oral Appliance Therapy
Most patients tolerate a properly fitted oral appliance well, but side effects are possible. These may include:
- Temporary jaw or muscle soreness
- Increased saliva or dry mouth
- Tooth tenderness
- Changes in the bite
- Movement of teeth over time
- TMJ discomfort
- Difficulty keeping the appliance in place
Regular dental monitoring helps Dr. Peterson identify and manage changes early. Tell our team if you develop persistent pain, bite changes or difficulty wearing the appliance.
The Relationship Between Sleep Apnea, Airway and TMJ Health
Sleep, breathing, tongue position, jaw structure and TMJ function may overlap in some patients. For example, a patient may experience snoring, grinding, morning headaches and jaw-muscle discomfort at the same time.
Dr. Peterson has completed extensive education in airway health, sleep dentistry, neuromuscular dentistry, TMJ care, myofascial pain and functional jaw relationships.
He has trained at the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies and with Dr. Prabu Raman in Kansas City, Missouri. He is also a Fellow of the International College of Craniomandibular Orthopedics and has served on its board for more than 17 years.
This experience helps Dr. Peterson evaluate how airway, sleep, bite and jaw-function concerns may interact while keeping recommendations specific to each patient.
Learn more about our airway dentistry and TMJ treatment services.
Supporting Better Sleep Beyond an Oral Appliance
Sleep apnea care may involve more than one treatment or lifestyle change. Your physician may recommend additional steps based on your health and diagnosis.
These may include:
- CPAP or another positive-airway-pressure therapy
- Weight management when appropriate
- Changes in sleep position
- Reducing alcohol use before bedtime
- Smoking cessation
- Treatment for nasal obstruction or allergies
- Evaluation by an ENT or another specialist
- Surgical care in selected cases
Our team works within a collaborative model and does not recommend that patients discontinue physician-directed treatment without medical guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sleep Apnea Treatment
Can a dentist diagnose sleep apnea?
No. A dentist may identify warning signs and coordinate testing, but a qualified physician must interpret the sleep study and diagnose obstructive sleep apnea.
How does a dental appliance help with sleep apnea?
A custom oral appliance may hold the lower jaw or related structures in a position that helps support airflow during sleep. The appliance must be selected according to the patient’s diagnosis, teeth, bite and jaw function.
Who may be a candidate for oral appliance therapy?
Oral appliance therapy may be appropriate for selected patients with physician-diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea or snoring. Candidacy depends on the severity of the condition, oral health, jaw function and the physician’s treatment recommendation.
Is an oral appliance better than CPAP?
Neither option is best for every patient. CPAP is highly effective and may be the preferred treatment, particularly for more severe conditions. Oral appliances may be appropriate for selected patients, including some who cannot tolerate CPAP.
Can I buy a sleep apnea appliance online?
Over-the-counter devices are not the same as a custom appliance provided and monitored by a trained dentist. A properly fitted appliance requires a medical diagnosis, dental evaluation and follow-up care.
Will an oral appliance stop my snoring?
An appliance may reduce snoring in some patients, but results vary. Snoring may also occur without sleep apnea, so proper evaluation is important before treatment.
How do I know whether the appliance is working?
Changes in symptoms can be helpful, but follow-up sleep testing may be needed to measure treatment effectiveness. Your physician and dentist will determine the appropriate monitoring plan.
Can children receive dental treatment for sleep-related breathing concerns?
Children may be evaluated for oral and airway-related signs, but pediatric sleep concerns require collaboration with qualified medical providers. HealthyStart or another appliance may be considered only when it is appropriate for the child’s development and care plan.
How long will I need to wear my sleep appliance?
The length of treatment depends on your diagnosis, response and ongoing medical needs. Many patients wear an appliance nightly and continue with regular dental and medical follow-up.
Schedule a Sleep Apnea Treatment Consultation
If snoring, gasping, restless sleep or daytime fatigue may be affecting your health, an evaluation can help determine the appropriate next step. Our team can review oral factors, coordinate sleep testing and provide an appropriate dental appliance when recommended.
Please contact our office or call 801-278-4787 to learn more about sleep apnea treatment in Sandy, UT, and schedule a consultation with Dr. Peterson.