Sleep Apnea
Still Exhausted After a Full Night's Sleep?
Snoring that keeps the house awake, nights spent tossing and turning, mornings that start in a fog. These can all point to sleep apnea. Our team will help you get answers with a sleep evaluation, then treat it with a custom mouthguard you wear at night.
What Is Sleep Apnea, and Could You Have It?
Sleep apnea means your airway partly or fully closes while you’re asleep, so your breathing stops and starts many times through the night. It can happen to children, adults, and people who otherwise feel perfectly healthy.
Many people live with it for years without realizing. A partner is often the one who notices, hearing heavy snoring, choking sounds, or moments when you stop breathing. If you wake up with a headache or a dry mouth, or someone has mentioned your snoring, it’s a good reason to get checked.
Signs You Might Notice
- Heavy snoring or tossing and turning at night
- Waking up tired, no matter how long you slept
- A foggy memory or a hard time concentrating
- Feeling short-tempered or down
- Weight gain you can’t explain
What Happens if Sleep Apnea Goes Untreated?
Every time your breathing stops, your oxygen levels dip, and your body gets pulled out of deep sleep. Left alone, sleep apnea can contribute to:
- Raised blood pressure
- Heart disease and a greater chance of stroke
- Nodding off behind the wheel and slower reflexes
- Tiredness that follows you through the day
How Can a Mouthguard Help Me?
A mandibular advancement device (MAD) is a custom mouthguard made from a digital scan of your teeth. When you put it in at bedtime, it gently moves your lower jaw slightly forward, helping keep your airway open until morning. Patients like that it’s comfortable, silent, and small enough to toss in a bag when they travel.
You might be a good candidate if you:
- Have mild or moderate obstructive sleep apnea
- Snore heavily on most nights
- Have struggled to get along with a CPAP machine
Why Not Just Buy One at the Store?
Store-bought mouthguards come in one shape for everyone, which means they tend to feel bulky and shift during the night. Yours is shaped to your own teeth, so it stays securely in place, and we can fine-tune it as needed. A better fit means better results and more comfort every night, which can lead to:
- Calmer, deeper sleep
- Sharper focus through the day
- A lighter mood
- A healthier heart
Does Medical Insurance Cover Sleep Apnea Treatment?
In many cases, it does. Sleep apnea is a medical condition, so your medical plan may help pay for treatment, not only your dental plan. Our team will gather your insurance information and explain your coverage before anything begins. Just bring your medical insurance card to your evaluation, and we can get the ball rolling.
From Evaluation to Restful Nights
Your evaluation: Dr. De Vincenzo looks for signs of sleep apnea and takes a quick digital scan of your teeth. There are no goopy impression trays, and it’s done in minutes.
Insurance help: Our team collects your insurance details and keeps you in the loop along the way.
Your home sleep test: You spend one night in your own bed wearing a small ring that measures your oxygen levels. A board-certified physician then reads your results. There are no wires to deal with and no night away at a sleep lab.
Your plan: We sit down together to review your results and talk about your choices, which may include an oral appliance. If a different treatment is a better match, we’ll help you move forward with your physician.
Your appliance: You return to pick up your device, and we check the fit before you leave. We’ll also walk you through putting it in, taking it out, and caring for it.
Caring for Your Sleep, Just Like Your Smile
Dr. De Vincenzo and our team at Addison Family Dentistry are happy to bring sleep apnea care to families in Addison. If you already visit us for cleanings and checkups, just mention a sleep evaluation at your next appointment.
Bringing up snoring or constant tiredness can feel a bit awkward, and we get that. We’ll listen closely, answer every question, and explain each step in everyday language. You’ll never feel hurried, and you’ll always know what to expect next.
Ready to Wake Up Refreshed?
Feeling rested in the morning shouldn’t be out of reach. Schedule a sleep evaluation with us, and we’ll help you start your path toward quieter, more restful nights.
Whether you’ve been coming to us for years or you’re looking for a new dental home, our Addison team would love to help you enjoy restful nights and brighter days.
Frequently Asked Questions
We’ll review the cost with you before anything starts, so you won’t be caught off guard. If your plan doesn’t cover it, we’ll look at your options together and find an approach that suits you.
A board-certified physician reads your sleep test and makes the diagnosis. Dr. De Vincenzo looks for the warning signs, then designs and fits your oral appliance if it’s part of your plan.
Heavy snoring, daytime tiredness, and trouble concentrating are common clues. A sleep test is the only way to know for certain, and you can do it from home.
For many patients, it can. Oral appliances are often a good option for mild to moderate sleep apnea, or for anyone who has a hard time with CPAP. Your physician and Dr. De Vincenzo will help you choose what suits you best.
Most patients get used to it within a few weeks. Some notice a little jaw tenderness or extra saliva early on, and this usually fades. We’ll check the fit to keep you comfortable.
In many cases, yes. Because it helps keep your airway open, it can quiet your snoring a great deal or stop it completely, and your partner will probably notice the difference too.
With proper care, most appliances last for several years. We’ll look it over during your regular visits and let you know if it needs a repair or a replacement.
Absolutely. We’re always happy to welcome new patients. Give us a call or book online, and mention that you’re interested in a sleep evaluation.