Sleep Apnea
in Lutz, FL
A custom oral appliance alternative to CPAP for snoring and sleep apnea.
If snoring or sleep apnea is disrupting your sleep, a custom oral appliance may help. We offer mandibular advancement devices (MADs), a dental alternative to CPAP for many patients.
How it works
A MAD looks similar to a sports mouthguard. It gently moves your lower jaw forward and slightly down, which helps keep your airway open while you sleep and reduces the tongue and throat tissue from blocking it, the main cause of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea.
The device is custom-fit from an impression or 3D scan of your teeth, and many designs are adjustable so we can fine-tune how far the jaw is repositioned for the best results. It's often a more comfortable option for patients who find a CPAP mask difficult to wear through the night.
If snoring or sleep apnea is affecting your rest, schedule a consultation at our Lutz, FL office to see if a custom oral appliance is right for you.
Signs worth paying attention to
These signs are worth bringing up at your next visit or with your physician. A proper sleep apnea diagnosis is made through a sleep study, and a custom oral appliance is generally most appropriate for mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea or for patients who haven't tolerated CPAP well; we'll help determine whether that's the right path for you, working alongside your physician's diagnosis.
- Loud, frequent snoring, especially if a partner notices pauses in your breathing during sleep.
- Waking up gasping or choking, or with a dry mouth or sore throat.
- Morning headaches or waking up feeling unrested even after a full night's sleep.
- Daytime fatigue, difficulty concentrating, or feeling sleepy during normal daily activities.
Getting fitted for your appliance
- Consultation: we review your sleep study results and history to confirm an oral appliance is an appropriate option.
- Impressions or digital scan: your custom device is built from an exact model of your teeth and bite.
- Fitting and adjustment: once the appliance arrives, we check the fit and gradually adjust how far it advances your jaw for the best result with the least discomfort.
- Follow-up: we check in to see how sleep quality has changed and fine-tune the appliance as needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a mandibular advancement device (MAD)?
A custom oral appliance, similar to a sports mouthguard, that gently moves your lower jaw forward and slightly down to help keep your airway open during sleep.
Is it a good alternative to CPAP?
It's often a more comfortable option for patients who find a CPAP mask difficult to wear through the night.
Is the device adjustable?
Many designs are adjustable, so how far the jaw is repositioned can be fine-tuned for the best results.
Who treats sleep apnea at the practice?
Dr. Wolf, who has advanced training in dental sleep medicine and is an active member of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, built out the practice's dental sleep program from the ground up.
What are signs I might have sleep apnea?
Loud or frequent snoring, pauses in breathing noticed by a partner, waking up gasping, morning headaches, and daytime fatigue are all worth bringing up with us or your physician.
How is the appliance fitted?
After a consultation to confirm you're a candidate, we take impressions or a digital scan to build your custom device, then fit and gradually adjust it for the most comfortable, effective result, with follow-up to fine-tune as needed.
