At Presidential Dental Care, we believe dentistry is about more than teeth — it’s about your total health. One of the most overlooked areas of dentistry is sleep. If your dentist isn’t asking about your sleep quality, daytime fatigue, snoring, or breathing habits, a critical piece of your health may be missing.
Because your airway, bite, tongue posture, and jaw development all influence how well you breathe at night, dentists play a major role in identifying and treating Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). With airway-focused care and advanced oral appliance therapy, dentists can help patients breathe better, sleep better, and live healthier.
Here’s how we support patients with OSA at Presidential Dental Care.
Early Detection: Dentists Are Often the First to Spot OSA
Many signs of airway restriction are visible in the mouth long before someone receives a medical diagnosis. During routine exams, we look for structural and functional indicators that may point to OSA or sleep-disordered breathing.
Sleep Study Referral & Diagnosis
While dentists do not diagnose OSA, we can identify symptoms and risk factors and refer you for a medical sleep study (polysomnography or home sleep test).
This study evaluates:
- Breathing interruptions
- Oxygen levels
- Heart rate
- Sleep stages
If OSA is confirmed, we work closely with medical sleep specialists to design the right treatment plan for you.
Recognizing Airway Risk Factors
During your exam, we assess:
- Narrow or restricted airway
- Tongue position and size
- Crowded teeth
- Jaw development or retrusion
- Enlarged tonsils
- Mouth breathing patterns
These structural findings help us determine if you may benefit from airway-focused treatment.
Collaborative Care
Our office collaborates with sleep physicians, ENTs, and medical providers to ensure that each patient receives accurate diagnosis and comprehensive care.
How Dentists Treat OSA: Advanced Oral Appliance Therapy
For many patients, specially designed dental devices can replace or complement CPAP therapy. These appliances open the airway during sleep by adjusting the jaw or tongue into a more optimal position.
Mandibular Advancement Devices (MADs)
MADs gently reposition the lower jaw forward, creating more space behind the tongue and reducing airway collapse during sleep.
Benefits include:
- Reduced snoring
- Improved nighttime breathing
- Better sleep quality
Tongue Retaining Appliances (TRAs)
TRAs hold the tongue forward to keep it from blocking the airway, especially helpful for patients whose tongue posture contributes to obstruction.
Custom-Fitted Oral Appliances
At Presidential Dental Care, every oral device is individually fitted to the patient. Customization ensures:
- Comfort
- Stability
- Maximum effectiveness
- Better long-term compliance
FDA-Cleared Treatment Options
Recently, Vivos Therapeutics received the first-ever FDA 510(k) clearance for oral devices that treat moderate to severe OSA in adults. These devices can be used alone or alongside CPAP and myofunctional therapy—marking a major advancement in airway dentistry.
The Treatment Journey: What to Expect
1. Comprehensive Airway and Dental Evaluation
Your appointment includes:
- 3D imaging (if indicated)
- Examination of airway structures
- Bite and jaw assessment
- Tongue posture and breathing pattern evaluation
- Review of sleep symptoms and history
This helps us understand how your anatomy influences your sleep.
2. Customized Treatment Plan
If oral appliance therapy is appropriate, we recommend the best device for your unique airway needs. For some patients, we may incorporate myofunctional therapy or refer for CPAP if necessary.
3. Appliance Fitting & Calibration
We take precise digital scans or dental impressions to ensure perfect fit. After you begin using your device, we schedule follow-up visits to fine-tune the appliance for comfort and maximum airway support.
Why Dental Treatment for OSA Works
Better Breathing, Better Sleep
By stabilizing your tongue and jaw position, oral appliances:
- Prevent airway collapse
- Improve oxygen flow
- Reduce nighttime awakenings
- Support deeper, restorative sleep
Reduced Snoring
Most appliances dramatically decrease snoring by keeping the airway open.
Improved Health and Daytime Function
Better sleep is linked to:
- Lower blood pressure
- Improved mood
- Better concentration
- Reduced risk of heart disease and diabetes
Treating OSA does more than help you sleep — it supports your overall health and longevity.
Monitoring and Long-Term Results
We don’t just provide the appliance — we support you throughout your airway journey.
Regular Follow-Up Visits
We ensure the device continues to fit properly and remains effective over time.
Adjustments & Maintenance
We make modifications as needed and teach you how to clean and care for your appliance.
Continued Collaboration
We work closely with your sleep physician to monitor your progress, adjust treatment plans, and evaluate improvements through follow-up sleep testing when needed.
The Bottom Line: Dentistry Plays a Powerful Role in Treating OSA
Dentists are uniquely positioned to identify early signs of sleep apnea and provide effective, non-invasive treatments that support long-term airway health. At Presidential Dental Care, our airway-focused approach allows us to help patients breathe, sleep, and live better.
If you snore, feel tired during the day, or struggle with sleep quality, you may be experiencing symptoms of OSA.
We’re here to guide you toward better sleep and better health.
📞 Call us at
Philadelphia, PA (610)664-1641
Kensington, MD (240)550-1442
Or schedule your exam here.
Let’s help you reclaim restful sleep and healthier breathing.***