Sleep Apnea Treatment

If you regularly wake with headaches, feel tired during the day, snore loudly, or have a partner who notices pauses in your breathing, it may be worth discussing your symptoms with a medical provider. For appropriate patients, a custom sleep appliance may help improve nighttime breathing and make restful sleep easier.

An oral sleep appliance is a small device worn in the mouth while you sleep. Similar in size to a retainer, it gently repositions the lower jaw and tongue to help prevent the airway from narrowing or closing.

Compared with CPAP equipment, oral appliances are small, quiet, and easy to transport. They may be especially helpful for certain patients who have difficulty tolerating CPAP or who have been advised that an oral appliance is an appropriate treatment option.

Our team evaluates your oral health, jaw movement, bite, and airway before recommending treatment. When appropriate, we also coordinate with your physician or sleep specialist as part of your care.

Oral appliance therapy may be appropriate for some patients with obstructive sleep apnea or disruptive snoring.

You may be a candidate if:

• You have mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea

• You snore loudly or regularly disturb your partner's sleep

• You have difficulty tolerating CPAP

• A medical provider or sleep specialist recommends oral appliance therapy

Before providing an appliance, our dentists will evaluate your bite, jaw movement, teeth, and gum health. Dental concerns such as unstable teeth or active gum disease may need to be addressed before treatment begins.

Your appointment begins with a focused dental examination and a discussion of your sleep patterns, symptoms, and medical history.

When appropriate, we may use CBCT imaging to view your jaw and airway in greater detail. Digital impressions also allow us to capture an accurate model of your teeth and bite without traditional impression materials.

If you already have results from a sleep study, bring them with you. If additional testing is needed, we can explain how medical sleep testing may fit into the treatment process and coordinate with the appropriate provider when necessary.

For the right patient, an oral appliance can provide a convenient way to support nighttime breathing.

Potential benefits include:

• Reduced snoring

• Fewer breathing interruptions

• Less daytime sleepiness

• Improved alertness and concentration

• A compact alternative for patients who struggle with CPAP

We monitor both comfort and treatment effectiveness over time. When follow-up sleep testing is available, those results can also help determine how well the appliance is working.

We keep the process straightforward and explain each step before moving forward.

During your visit, we may:

• Review your medical and sleep history

• Examine your teeth, bite, and jaw movement

• Take digital impressions

• Use CBCT imaging when needed to evaluate your airway

• Show you a sample oral appliance and explain how it works

Once your appliance is ready, we will show you how to insert, remove, and clean it. Follow-up appointments allow us to fine-tune the fit and monitor your jaw comfort, bite, and progress.

An oral appliance may be an alternative to CPAP for some patients, but the right treatment depends on the type and severity of sleep apnea, your overall health, and the recommendations of your medical and dental providers.

Some patients who cannot comfortably use CPAP may be candidates for oral appliance therapy. Others may still need CPAP or another form of treatment.

Our role is to determine whether your teeth, bite, and jaw are suitable for an oral appliance and to provide and adjust the device as part of your recommended treatment plan.

Yes, oral appliances may help reduce snoring in some patients by repositioning the jaw and tongue to keep the airway more open during sleep.

However, loud or persistent snoring can also be a sign of obstructive sleep apnea. If your snoring is accompanied by breathing pauses, gasping, morning headaches, or significant daytime fatigue, medical evaluation may be recommended before treatment.

Proper care can help your appliance remain comfortable and functional.

We generally recommend that patients:

• Rinse and clean the appliance regularly with a non-abrasive brush

• Store it in a ventilated case away from excessive heat

• Check the appliance for signs of wear or damage

• Let us know if you notice jaw soreness or changes in your bite

Periodic dental visits also allow us to monitor your appliance's fit and make adjustments as needed.

At Gwendolyn Kines-McLeod, DDS, PLLC, we provide sleep apnea treatment in Terrell, TX, with a focus on comfortable, customized dental care.

Dr. Kines-McLeod and our team use digital impressions and CBCT imaging when appropriate to evaluate your bite, jaw, and airway and to plan your oral appliance. We also work alongside your physician or sleep specialist when coordination is needed.

Our goal is to provide a sleep appliance that fits comfortably, supports your treatment plan, and can be adjusted as your needs change.

Gwendolyn Kines-McLeod, DDS, PLLC, provides oral appliance therapy for appropriate patients in Terrell, TX, and accepts referrals from local physicians. Call our office to schedule a consultation and find out whether a custom sleep apnea appliance may be right for you, as part of our broader general dentistry care.