Snoring, trouble tolerating a CPAP mask, and waking up tired even after a full night's sleep are common complaints. What many people don't realize is that your jaw and airway are connected — and that's where an orthodontist can help.

Meet Dr. Specht

Perfecting smiles for over 30 years with expert care and advanced technology.

15 Years of 5-Star Reviews • Virtual Visits Available

Call (805) 347-4444Schedule FREE Consultation

Sleep Apnea in 60 Seconds

Sleep apnea is a condition where your breathing repeatedly stops and starts while you sleep, usually because the airway becomes blocked or narrowed (obstructive sleep apnea) or your brain doesn't send the right signals to your breathing muscles (central sleep apnea). Some people have a mix of both. Each pause briefly wakes your body to restart breathing, which keeps you from getting deep, restful sleep, often without you realizing it's happening.

Watch for these signs:

• Loud or heavy snoring
• Gasping or choking sounds during sleep
• Waking up tired despite a full night's sleep
• Morning headaches or trouble concentrating
• Irritability or mood changes

How Your Jaw and Teeth Affect Your Airway

While most people do not automatically think of an orthodontist when thinking about sleep apnea, the connection does exist. Your jaw is also integral in keeping your airway open. When it is positioned too far back, it does reduce the room for air to pass through. There are also situations where your dental structure, such as how your teeth fit into your dental arch, could be causing issues for you. Catching these issues early allows us to steer you in the right direction.

Oral Appliance Therapy: A CPAP Alternative

CPAP works well, but many people struggle to wear the mask every night. For adults with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea, or those who can't tolerate CPAP, a custom oral appliance is a recognized alternative. It looks like a sports mouth guard and holds your lower jaw slightly forward while you sleep, which helps keep the airway open. Unlike store-bought snoring guards, it's made from a scan of your teeth and adjusted over several visits for comfort and effect. Medical insurance may cover oral appliance therapy when a physician has diagnosed sleep apnea — we can help you check your benefits.

Snoring vs Sleep Apnea: Does a Mouth Guard Help?

Snoring happens when your throat muscles relax during sleep and the airway narrows, causing the surrounding tissue to vibrate. Loud, frequent snoring can be an early sign of obstructive sleep apnea, but not everyone who snores has sleep apnea. A properly fitted oral appliance can reduce snoring caused by jaw or tongue position — it won't help snoring caused by nasal congestion, and an ill-fitting one (especially an over-the-counter option not molded to your bite) can push the jaw the wrong way and make snoring worse.

If you're considering an oral appliance for snoring, here's how to approach it:

1. 1

   Identify the cause

   A mouth guard helps snoring caused by throat or jaw obstruction, not snoring caused by nasal congestion, so pinpoint the cause first.

2. 2

   Check whether sleep apnea is involved

   Oral appliances can work well for mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea, but they are not effective for severe cases, which usually need a CPAP or another treatment.

3. 3

   Choose a custom-fitted device, not an over-the-counter one

   Ask a dentist or orthodontist for a mouthpiece molded to your bite. Off-the-shelf guards are built for teeth grinding, not airway obstruction, and often fit too loosely or bulkily to help.

4. 4

   Get professionally fitted

   A trained provider positions the guard so it moves your jaw forward just enough to open the airway without straining it. An improper fit can push the jaw the wrong way and make snoring worse.

Orthodontic Options for Airway Health

Oral Appliances – We can use special devices to place your jaw in a position that will keep your airway open while you are sleeping.

Braces and Invisalign – We can use orthodontic treatments to correct problems with how your jaw and teeth function, which can improve breathing for some patients.

Palatal Expanders – For younger patients whose jaws are still growing, this treatment can increase space in the airway.

How It Works at Central Coast Orthodontics

1. Diagnosis: your physician or a sleep specialist confirms sleep apnea with a sleep study. Don't have one yet? We can point you toward one.
2. Consult and scan: Dr. Specht checks your jaw, bite and teeth to see if an oral appliance is a good fit.
3. Fitting: your custom appliance is made and fitted, then gradually adjusted.
4. Follow-up: your physician may order a follow-up sleep study to confirm the appliance is working.

We take the big picture into account at Central Coast Orthodontics. Your smile, your comfort and your well-being are all connected, and we work alongside your physician rather than in place of one. Book a free consultation today and take the first step towards better sleep.

Learn more about our orthodontic services at Central Coast Orthodontics.