Sleep Apnea


Did You Know…

  •    You can live 3 WEEKS without food
  •    You can live 3 DAYS without water
  •    You can live only 3 MINUTES without oxygen


At DaVinci Dental, we can help you return to a full night of peaceful, healthy sleeping.

By now, we are sure you have heard about sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is the most common sleep disorder affecting over 18 million Americans.  The consequences of untreated sleep apnea can range from mild to severe, including high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, brain damage, diabetes, depression, obesity, and impotency.  Sleep apnea and related sleep disorders should not be taken lightly and can lead to serious health related issues. Are you tired of being tired? Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the use of continuous positive pressure to maintain a continuous level of positive airway pressure. CPAP at home utilizes machines specifically designed to deliver a constant flow or pressure. Some CPAP machines have other features as well, such as heated humidifiers. CPAP is the most effective treatment for obstructive sleep apnea, in which the mild pressure from CPAP prevents the airway from collapsing or becoming blocked. We offer alternatives for people who are CPAP intolerant. We have partnered with SleepTest.com, which is an online resource dedicated to educating the public on sleep apnea and related sleep disorders.  Our goal is to restore you to a proper night of healthy sleeping by discovering which alternative is best for you.


CPAP Alternatives

At DaVinci Dental, we see many patients that complain about snoring or their CPAP machines.  Although CPAP is considered the ‘gold star’ standard for patients with severe sleep apnea, if you don’t wear it, it’s not helping!  Studies show that only 43% of CPAP users actually wear their CPAP masks.  So, you are not alone if you are not strapping your mask on every night. Many patients with severe sleep apnea, who need to wear a CPAP, find comfort in combining therapies.  Many include oral appliance therapy in conjunction with their CPAP.  The repositioning of the mandible help open the airway, allowing CPAP users to turn down the pressure on their masks, resulting in higher tolerance and usage.

For patients who suffer from mild to severe sleep apnea, oral appliance therapy is a popular method for treatment.   There are a variety of different appliances to keep the position of the mandible forward, and open, to allow for more air. The best part is, oral appliance therapy for sleep apnea is now covered by Medicare and most large insurance companies.

An oral sleep appliance is a custom-fabricated mouthpiece similar to an orthodontic retainer or sports mouth-guard worn over the teeth.  The appliance works by comfortably repositioning the lower jaw and tongue forward or by restraining the tongue to keep the airway from collapsing during sleep.  Snoring and sleep apnea are then effectively managed and good quality sleep can be achieved without interruption.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends oral sleep appliances as a first line treatment option for individuals with mild or moderate sleep apnea or for those who are unable to use CPAP successfully.  Oral appliances are also considered for those who are not candidates or prefer not to pursue airway surgery.

Our dentists at DaVinci Dental are specially trained in the field of dental sleep medicine can expertly fabricate a dental sleep appliance.  We work closely with sleep physicians and sleep lab technicians to ensure appliance efficacy and long-term health of the individual.

CPAP treatment can be highly effective in treatment of obstructive sleep apnea. For some patients, the improvement in the quality of sleep and quality of life due to CPAP treatment will be noticed after a single night’s use. Unfortunately, most people don’t wear their CPAP mask, but now there is a great solution: oral appliance therapy.