Breathe Easier At Night
A custom oral appliance may offer a comfortable nighttime option for appropriate patients with a medical sleep apnea diagnosis.
Mountain View Smiles
Sleep apnea repeatedly interrupts breathing during sleep. Those disruptions can keep your body from getting the deep, restorative rest it needs, even when you spend enough hours in bed. Loud snoring, waking with a dry mouth or headache, daytime fatigue, and difficulty concentrating can be warning signs, but symptoms alone do not confirm the condition.
Sleep apnea is a medical disorder and must be diagnosed through appropriate medical evaluation and sleep testing. Mountain View Smiles does not replace that diagnosis. Our role is to evaluate your mouth and jaw and determine whether a custom oral appliance may fit into the treatment plan recommended with your medical provider.
For appropriate patients, a dental sleep appliance can provide an alternative to a mask-based device or support another medical plan. It should be professionally fitted, adjusted, and monitored—not selected from a generic over-the-counter shelf.
Mountain View Smiles
A sleep apnea oral appliance is worn over the teeth while you sleep. It gently supports the lower jaw in a planned position intended to help keep the airway more open. The device is removable and compact, which some patients find easier for travel or nightly use.
Treatment success depends on proper diagnosis, fit, consistent wear, and follow-up. An appliance is not appropriate for every type or severity of sleep apnea. Your teeth, gums, jaw joints, bite, and existing dental work also affect whether this approach makes sense.
Mountain View Smiles
For a well-selected patient, a custom oral appliance may offer:
These benefits do not guarantee that an appliance will control your sleep apnea. Follow-up with the appropriate medical provider and objective assessment of treatment effectiveness remain important.
Mountain View Smiles
If you have symptoms but no diagnosis, begin with a qualified medical provider. Sleep testing determines whether sleep apnea is present and helps establish severity. Do not use a dental device as a substitute for medical evaluation.
At Mountain View Smiles, Dr. Tom Nack reviews your medical recommendation, dental health, bite, jaw comfort, and available space. Digital scanning may be used to capture the shape of your teeth without traditional impressions.
Your appliance is created for your mouth and fitted at the office. We explain how to place, remove, clean, and store it. Gradual adjustments may be needed to balance airway support with jaw and bite comfort.
We monitor fit, tooth movement, gum health, jaw symptoms, and wear on the appliance. Your medical provider may recommend repeat testing or another method to confirm that treatment is controlling breathing interruptions.
Mountain View Smiles
Helpful Answers
Dentists can provide custom oral appliances that gently position the lower jaw forward to help keep the airway open during sleep. These appliances are a comfortable alternative for many patients with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea or those who cannot tolerate a CPAP machine. Mountain View Smiles works alongside your physician to support your care.
Yes. Sleep apnea must be diagnosed by a physician, usually through a sleep study at a sleep center or at home. Once you have a diagnosis, our Scottsdale, AZ team can determine whether oral appliance therapy is a good fit.
Loud snoring, gasping or choking during sleep, morning headaches, dry mouth, and daytime fatigue are common signs. A partner may notice pauses in your breathing. Untreated sleep apnea is linked to high blood pressure and other health risks, so it is worth getting checked.
Oral appliances are custom made from impressions or scans of your teeth, so they fit snugly and are typically much smaller than a CPAP mask. Some patients notice mild jaw soreness or extra saliva at first, which usually improves within a few weeks.
Mountain View Smiles · Scottsdale
If you have a sleep apnea diagnosis, schedule an oral appliance consultation at Mountain View Smiles in Scottsdale.
