Custom Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT)
Personalized FDA-approved oral appliances precisely fitted to keep the airway open during sleep, offering an effective CPAP alternative for mild to moderate sleep apnea.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea Screening and Diagnosis
Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition in which the upper airway repeatedly collapses or narrows during sleep, interrupting breathing and reducing oxygen levels throughout the night. The condition often presents through symptoms the patient is unaware of — loud snoring, gasping or choking during sleep, morning headaches, daytime fatigue, and difficulty concentrating — and is frequently first noticed by a bed partner. Left untreated, obstructive sleep apnea is associated with elevated risks for high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and motor vehicle accidents related to drowsy driving.
Screening in a dental setting begins with a clinical evaluation of the airway, tongue position, palate shape, bite, and jaw structure, along with a review of medical history and validated screening questionnaires such as the STOP-BANG or Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Imaging may be used to assess the airway in greater detail. When findings indicate elevated risk, an at-home sleep test or in-lab polysomnography is coordinated to confirm the diagnosis and measure severity — typically expressed as an Apnea-Hypopnea Index, or AHI. Diagnosis itself is made by a physician, and the dental role is to identify risk, facilitate testing, and integrate findings into a coordinated care plan.
Early and accurate diagnosis matters because treatment options, prognosis, and long-term health outcomes all depend on understanding the severity and pattern of the condition. Mild, moderate, and severe obstructive sleep apnea are treated differently, and some patients have positional or REM-related apnea that requires a more specific approach. A complete diagnostic picture also rules out other sleep disorders that can present with similar symptoms but require different treatment — making the screening and diagnosis phase the foundation that every effective sleep dentistry treatment plan is built on.
Why Choose Art of Sleep Dentistry
At Art of Sleep Dentistry, screening for sleep-disordered breathing is part of every comprehensive evaluation — not an afterthought reserved for patients who already suspect a problem. Our team is trained to recognize the dental and airway signs of obstructive sleep apnea and to coordinate testing and diagnosis directly with sleep physicians so that nothing is missed in the handoff between providers. If you suspect you may have sleep apnea, have been told you snore heavily, or simply want to understand your airway health, contact us today to schedule an evaluation — we'll take it from here.
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