every visit ends with a smile

• By Verdugo Hills Dental
• Sleep Apnea
• September 7, 2023

From poor sleep quality that leads to foggy, unproductive days to symptoms of depression and arguments with your partner over snoring, sleep apnea can significantly reduce your quality of life.

It can also lead to severe consequences, including high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, diabetes, and cognitive decline.

Thankfully, there are various treatment options you can pursue. Getting a dental treatment for sleep apnea has emerged as an effective and non-invasive approach.

Here, you’ll learn everything you need to know about dental devices for sleep apnea treatment, whether they work, and their benefits and average cost.

Dental Treatment Options for Sleep Apnea

In essence, a dental treatment for sleep apnea is a customized oral appliance you wear during sleep.

These devices are designed to reposition the jaw and tongue to keep the airway open, reducing breathing interruptions and improving airflow.

After a sleep apnea dentist assesses your case, they’ll give you a customized device, a fitting, and instructions for use and maintenance.

You just have to put the appliance in your mouth before sleep and set a follow-up appointment to monitor progress. Your dentist will make adjustments if needed.

To properly maintain your device, you need to clean it daily with a toothbrush and toothpaste and periodically with a denture cleaner or solution recommended by your dentist.

Who Should Seek Dental Treatment for Sleep Apnea?

You should choose a sleep apnea device as treatment over a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine if you:

• Suffer from mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) 
• Find it uncomfortable to use a CPAP machine
• Struggle to use your CPAP machine consistently

This is because dental devices for sleep apnea treatment are much less invasive than CPAP machines.

Still, you need a comprehensive assessment by a sleep apnea dentist to know the most appropriate treatment approach for your specific condition.

Contact us to schedule an appointment with our sleep apnea dental treatment specialists at Verdugo Hills Dentals, in Montrose, California.

Do Dental Devices for Sleep Apnea Treatment Work?

Dental devices for sleep apnea treatment work particularly well for mild to moderate cases of OSA, according to The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AAOSM).

Several factors can impact the effectiveness of this therapy option, including:

• The severity of your condition
• The design and fit of the device
• Individual patient characteristics

Severe cases of OSA or central sleep apnea usually require a combination of therapies — a dental device might be one of them.

Again, only a qualified dentist can examine your medical history, physical condition, and sleep patterns, and recommend the most appropriate treatment option.

Schedule an appointment at our Montrose, CA dental office to find out if an oral appliance is the best therapy for you.

6 Benefits of Dental Treatment for Sleep Apnea

If you suffer from sleep apnea, a custom dental device can bring about several benefits, including:

1. Improved Breathing and Steady Oxygen Levels

These dental appliances align the airway during sleep, preventing blockages and promoting consistent airflow. 

This improves your breathing and reduces breathing interruptions. In turn, maintaining a steady flow of air minimizes drops in oxygen saturation during sleep.

Sustaining healthy oxygen levels throughout the night is crucial to support better sleep quality and reduce stress on the cardiovascular system.

Also, some people who suffer from sleep apnea frequently wake up with headaches. Steady oxygen levels and fewer episodes of interrupted breathing reduce the stress on the body that causes morning headaches.

2. Enhanced Sleep Quality and Fewer Disruptions

Sleep apnea dental devices help you maintain a more stable sleeping pattern by reducing interruptions in breathing, which leads to:

• Waking up fewer times throughout the night
• Deeper and more restorative sleep
• Increased quality and quantity of REM sleep — a crucial sleep cycle for memory consolidation and cognitive function
• Improved overall sleep quality

3. Reduction in Snoring

Dental devices reposition the jaw and tongue to minimize airway constriction, often resulting in reduced or eliminated snoring. Quieter nights benefit both you and your partner.

4. Decreased Daytime Sleepiness

With better and more continuous sleep, you’ll experience less daytime sleepiness and fatigue and feel more alert, focused, and productive throughout the day.

Besides, improved sleep quality will enhance your memory, decision-making, and reaction time, decreasing the risk of accidents.

5. Reduced Risk of Health Complications

Sleep apnea increases the risk of several other health complications, including: 

• Cardiovascular problems such as high blood pressure and congestive heart failure
• Metabolic disorders like diabetes and obesity
• Neurological disorders such as strokes
• Cognitive decline
• Respiratory issues

Proactively addressing it will reduce this risk and contribute to your long-term well-being.

6. Improved Mental Health

Lastly, better sleep quality will positively impact your mental health by contributing to:

• Better mood regulation
• Decreased symptoms of anxiety and/or depression
• Improved emotional well-being

How Much Does a Sleep Apnea Dental Treatment Cost? What About Sleep Apnea Devices and Dentists?

The cost of sleep apnea dental treatments, devices, and dentists, can vary a lot. It depends on:

• Your location
• The dentist’s experience
• The complexity of the case
• The type of sleep apnea device used

All things considered, the cost commonly ranges between $1,000 and $3,000, but it can cost more.

Besides the dental appliance itself, the cost may include the initial consultation, the device fabrication (they’re custom-made), fitting appointments, and any necessary adjustments.

Set an appointment with one of our sleep apnea dentists at Verdugo Hills Dental Group, in Montrose, California, to get a diagnosis and custom quote.

Does Health Insurance Cover Sleep Apnea Dental Treatments?

Health insurance coverage for sleep apnea oral appliances varies. Some plans partially or fully cover the cost of the treatment, while others have limitations or require specific criteria to be met.

You should ask your health insurance provider about coverage and potential out-of-pocket expenses.

Get a Professional Assessment from a Sleep Apnea Dentist in Montrose, California

From helping you wake up feeling rested and ready to take on the day to reducing snoring and boosting your productivity, dental treatment for sleep apnea can dramatically improve your quality of life.

If you or one of your loved ones is struggling with sleep apnea, consider exploring this non-invasive and effective solution.

Our specialists at Verdugo Hills Dental Group offer expert sleep apnea dental treatment and comprehensive, case-by-case assessments.

Pay us a visit at 3600 N Verdugo Rd Montrose CA or schedule an appointment online to start your journey towards deeper and restoring sleep.

If you still have any questions, don’t hesitate to call 818-839-7475 to have a chat with the team at Verdugo Hills Dental or to schedule an appointment.