Sleep Apnea & Oral Appliance Therapy in Newport, NH

What is obstructive sleep apnea?

Obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA, occurs when the upper airway repeatedly narrows or closes during sleep and breathing is reduced or temporarily interrupted.

Common signs and symptoms can include:

These symptoms are not specific to sleep apnea, which is why proper evaluation matters.

• loud or frequent snoring
• witnessed pauses in breathing
• gasping or choking during sleep
• waking frequently
• morning headaches
• waking with a dry mouth
• daytime tiredness or sleepiness
• difficulty concentrating
• poor-quality or unrefreshing sleep

What can a dentist evaluate?

Dental visits provide an opportunity to ask about sleep and breathing concerns and evaluate structures of the mouth and jaws that may be relevant.

We may consider your symptoms, medical history, jaw relationships, teeth, bite, tongue, oral tissues, and other findings as part of a dental screening.

If obstructive sleep apnea is suspected and has not already been diagnosed, appropriate medical or sleep-provider evaluation is the next step.

Oral appliance therapy

A custom oral appliance is worn during sleep and is designed to hold the lower jaw and related tissues in a position that helps maintain an open airway.

For selected patients with diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea, an oral appliance may be an appropriate treatment option.

Oral appliances are also considered for patients who cannot tolerate CPAP or who prefer an alternative when their medical or sleep provider determines that appliance therapy is appropriate.

Oral appliances and CPAP

CPAP and oral appliance therapy are different treatments.

CPAP uses pressurized air to help keep the airway open. An oral appliance changes the position of the jaw and oral structures.

Which treatment makes sense depends on the diagnosis, severity of the condition, anatomy, medical factors, patient preference, and how well a particular treatment is tolerated.

Dental evaluation before treatment

We look at:

Dental problems may need to be addressed before an appliance is made.

• the teeth available to support an appliance
• gum and periodontal health
• existing dental restorations
• jaw-joint symptoms
• bite
• tooth mobility
• missing teeth
• denture or implant considerations
• other dental findings that could affect treatment

How is the appliance made?

We use dental records and digital scanning when appropriate to create a custom appliance for your mouth.

Once the appliance is delivered, the fit and jaw position are adjusted gradually based on comfort, symptoms, dental findings, and the overall treatment plan.

This adjustment process is sometimes called titration.

Follow-up matters

Receiving the appliance is not the end of treatment.

Follow-up allows us to check:

Your medical or sleep provider may also recommend follow-up testing to determine how well the treatment is controlling the sleep disorder.

• appliance fit and condition
• comfort
• jaw or muscle symptoms
• tooth movement
• bite changes
• oral health
• whether additional adjustment is appropriate

Possible side effects

Many patients adapt well to oral appliances, but side effects can occur.

These may include:

We monitor for these changes during follow-up visits.

• temporary jaw or muscle soreness
• increased or decreased saliva
• tooth tenderness
• changes in how the teeth meet
• gradual tooth movement or bite changes

What about snoring without diagnosed sleep apnea?

Snoring does not always mean a person has obstructive sleep apnea, but it can be a sign of a sleep-related breathing problem.

Because untreated sleep apnea has medical importance, persistent or significant snoring should not automatically be treated as a simple noise problem without appropriate screening.

Interested in oral appliance treatment?

If you have already been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, bring any relevant sleep records or treatment information to your consultation.

If you have concerning symptoms but have never been evaluated, we can discuss the appropriate next step and coordinate with a medical or sleep provider when needed.