What is Sleep Apnea - And Can a Dentist Really Help?
What is Sleep Apnea - And Can a Dentist Really Help?
Waking up tired, snoring loudly, or nodding off during the day could be signs of sleep apnea—not just a bad night’s sleep. Sleep apnea is a serious condition where your breathing repeatedly stops and starts while you sleep, straining your heart and leaving you exhausted even after a full night in bed.
What is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which your airway repeatedly collapses or becomes blocked during the night, causing brief pauses in breathing called apneas. These episodes can happen dozens or even hundreds of times per night, often without you realizing it, and each one briefly wakes your brain just enough to restart breathing.
There are several types of sleep apnea, but obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common and the one dentists are best equipped to help manage. OSA is usually related to the position of your jaw, tongue, and soft tissues in the throat, which can narrow or block the airway when you lie down.
Common signs and health risks
Because sleep apnea happens while you sleep, many people do not know they have it until a partner notices snoring or pauses in breathing. Still, there are several daytime and nighttime symptoms that can raise concern, including loud snoring, gasping or choking during sleep, morning headaches, dry mouth, difficulty concentrating, irritability, and feeling excessively tired during the day.
Left untreated, sleep apnea does more than disrupt your sleep. It has been linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, weight gain, and an increased risk of accidents due to drowsiness. The longer it goes untreated, the more strain it can place on your heart, brain, and overall health—but effective treatment is available.
How a dentist can help with sleep apnea
Many people think of sleep apnea as something only a physician can diagnose and treat, but dentists now play an important role on the care team. During regular visits at Middleburg Smiles in Middleburg, VA, Dr. Lincoln and the team can look for oral and facial clues that may point to sleep-disordered breathing, such as worn teeth from grinding, a narrow jaw, a retruded lower jaw, scalloped tongue edges, or a crowded airway.
If sleep apnea is suspected, your dentist can refer you for a sleep study—either in a sleep lab or with an at‑home test—and collaborate with a sleep physician to confirm a diagnosis. For patients from Middleburg, Aldie, Ashburn, Purcellville, Marshall, Leesburg, and throughout Loudoun County, this coordinated approach helps connect airway concerns seen in the dental chair with comprehensive medical evaluation.
Oral appliance therapy: a comfortable alternative to CPAP
Once sleep apnea is diagnosed, treatment depends on the type and severity of the condition. For many people with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea—or those who cannot tolerate a CPAP machine—custom oral appliance therapy can be an effective, easier-to-use option.
Oral appliances are small, custom‑made devices that fit over your teeth and gently reposition your lower jaw and/or tongue to help keep the airway open while you sleep.
At Middleburg Smiles, your appliance is designed using impressions or digital scans of your teeth so it fits comfortably and is adjusted to your specific bite and airway needs. When worn consistently, many patients notice less snoring, deeper sleep, and better daytime energy.
Follow‑up visits are important to fine‑tune the fit and monitor your progress, often in partnership with your sleep physician to confirm that your apnea has improved on repeat testing. Oral appliances are recommended by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine as a primary therapy for many cases of mild to moderate OSA, and they can also be used along with CPAP in some treatment plans.
Lifestyle habits that support better sleep
Dental treatment is only one part of managing sleep apnea, and small lifestyle changes can make your results even better. Strategies like sleeping on your side instead of your back, avoiding alcohol near bedtime, maintaining a healthy weight, and sticking to a consistent sleep schedule can all help reduce apnea episodes and improve sleep quality.
Good “sleep hygiene”—such as limiting screen time before bed, keeping your bedroom dark and cool, and going to sleep and waking up at the same time each day—also supports deeper, more restorative rest. When combined with an oral appliance or other medical therapy, these habits can help you feel more awake, focused, and healthy during the day.
Taking the next step at Middleburg Smiles
If you suspect you might have sleep apnea or have been told you snore loudly, do not ignore the signs. At Middleburg Smiles, Dr. Lincoln and the team offer airway screenings, partner with local sleep specialists, and provide custom oral appliances to help patients in Middleburg and the surrounding Loudoun County communities breathe and sleep more comfortably.
If you are ready to explore whether sleep apnea could be affecting your health, contact Middleburg Smiles to schedule an evaluation or request an appointment online. Better sleep, better focus, and better long‑term health may be just one conversation away.