Sleep Dentistry
Sleep Apnea
Sleep Apnea Explained
Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep, often hundreds of times per night. At Nova Dental Care of Chantilly, we offer dental treatment options for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the most common form. Untreated sleep apnea is linked to serious health consequences including high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and motor vehicle accidents from daytime drowsiness. Effective treatment improves sleep quality, energy, mood, and long-term health.
Sleep apnea occurs when the airway becomes blocked during sleep, typically because the soft tissues at the back of the throat collapse and obstruct breathing. Common symptoms include loud snoring, witnessed pauses in breathing during sleep, gasping or choking sounds, morning headaches, daytime fatigue, difficulty concentrating, mood changes, and frequent nighttime urination. Diagnosis requires a sleep study, which can typically be done at home using portable equipment.
Dental treatment for sleep apnea typically involves a custom oral appliance that positions the lower jaw slightly forward during sleep, keeping the airway open. Oral appliances are an excellent option for patients with mild to moderate sleep apnea or those who cannot tolerate CPAP therapy. They are comfortable, portable, easy to clean, and don't require electricity, making them practical for travel. We work closely with your physician or sleep specialist to determine if oral appliance therapy is right for you and to monitor effectiveness with follow-up sleep studies.
Sleep Apnea Approach
Sleep apnea is a medical condition with serious consequences, and we approach treatment with that seriousness. At Nova Dental Care of Chantilly, we work in collaboration with sleep physicians to ensure proper diagnosis, appropriate treatment selection, and ongoing monitoring of treatment effectiveness.
We use custom-fitted oral appliances designed specifically for each patient's mouth and anatomy. Off-the-shelf devices from drugstores typically don't work well and can cause jaw problems. Our oral appliances are made from impressions or digital scans and adjusted carefully for both comfort and effectiveness. We monitor for side effects, make adjustments as needed, and coordinate with your sleep physician to verify the treatment is working through follow-up sleep studies.
Four simple steps, every time.
From the moment you sit down to the moment you leave, here's what a routine cleaning and exam looks like at our Chantilly office.
Diagnose
A sleep study (often done at home) confirms sleep apnea and its severity. We coordinate with your physician for proper diagnosis.
Evaluate
We assess your jaw, bite, teeth, and airway to determine if oral appliance therapy is appropriate for your case.
Customize
A custom oral appliance is fabricated from precise impressions or digital scans of your mouth.
Monitor
We adjust the appliance for optimal effectiveness and comfort, and follow up with you and your sleep physician to verify treatment success.