Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) encompasses any deviation from normal breathing patterns during sleep. From snoring to the potentially life-threatening OSA, untreated SDB poses significant health risks.
Opened Upper Airway
Closed Upper Airway
Recognizing symptoms of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is crucial for early intervention. Common signs include snoring, frequent pauses in breathing during sleep, gasping or choking, restless sleep, and waking with morning headaches or dry mouth. Daytime symptoms can also include fatigue, difficulty concentrating, irritability, and mood swings.
In children, additional symptoms may include tongue tie, bedwetting, frequent nightmares, dry or cracked lips, thumb sucking, mouth breathing, teeth grinding, and difficulty focusing or completing tasks. Physical signs like dark circles under the eyes may also suggest SDB. Even subtle signs, such as an open lip posture or slight mouth opening during sleep, should not be overlooked.
For patients experiencing snoring or mild sleep-disordered breathing, QuietNite laser therapy offers a non-invasive solution. This advanced treatment uses CO2 laser energy to gently tighten the soft tissues in the upper airway, including the soft palate. By stimulating natural collagen production, QuietNite reduces tissue vibration that causes snoring and helps open the airway for improved breathing during sleep. The procedure is quick, comfortable, and requires no downtime, with many patients noticing improvements within just a few days.
If left untreated, SDB can lead to a range of health problems, including hypertension, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, weight gain, mood disorders, and cognitive impairment. In children, untreated SDB may contribute to developmental delays, behavioral issues, learning difficulties, and poor academic performance. It can also disrupt emotional regulation, leading to anxiety, difficulty managing tasks, and decreased overall well-being.
The effects extend beyond just health, impacting daily life, work, and safety, especially when daytime fatigue and cognitive impairment are present. Addressing SDB early is essential for preventing these long-term complications and improving quality of life.
Comprehensive airway treatments and family dental care with flexible financing to improve your health and smile.
Airway dentistry is a specialized field within dentistry that examines how the structure of the mouth influences breathing patterns and overall health. Dentists trained in airway dentistry use advanced diagnostic tools to assess patients for signs of compromised breathing, such as mouth breathing and malocclusion. By identifying these issues early on, our experienced Jacksonville dentists can develop personalized treatment plans to promote healthy breathing habits and optimal development of the airway from childhood into adulthood.
Myofunctional therapy is a specialized treatment designed to correct improper oral habits like tongue thrusting, mouth breathing, and incorrect swallowing patterns, which can affect breathing, speech, and overall oral health. These habits can lead to issues such as misaligned teeth, improper jaw development, and even sleep-disordered breathing.
We offer this therapy in-office for patients with a cognitive age of 4 and up, retraining the muscles of the mouth and throat to promote proper nasal breathing, improve swallowing function, and support overall well-being.
Dental sleep medicine is a specialized field that focuses on using oral appliances and other dental interventions to treat sleep-disordered breathing, including obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and snoring. At Airway Dental and More in Jacksonville, our team is trained in dental sleep medicine and can provide alternatives to CPAP machines for patients with mild to moderate sleep apnea. We create custom oral appliances that gently reposition your jaw and tongue during sleep to keep your airway open, allowing you to breathe easier and sleep more soundly. These FDA-approved devices are comfortable, portable, and much easier to use than CPAP machines. We work closely with sleep physicians to ensure proper diagnosis and treatment, and we monitor your progress with follow-up appointments and sleep studies when needed. Dental sleep medicine can dramatically improve your sleep quality, energy levels, and overall health.
Sleep apnea symptoms in adults include loud, chronic snoring, gasping or choking during sleep, witnessed pauses in breathing, excessive daytime sleepiness or fatigue, morning headaches, difficulty concentrating, irritability or mood changes, high blood pressure, waking up with a dry mouth or sore throat, frequent nighttime urination, and restless sleep. Many Jacksonville patients don’t realize they have sleep apnea because the most obvious symptoms occur while they’re sleeping. If your partner complains about your snoring or has noticed you stop breathing during sleep, it’s crucial to seek evaluation. Left untreated, sleep apnea increases your risk for serious health problems including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and depression. At Airway Dental and More, we can perform an initial screening and refer you for a sleep study if needed. Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent long-term health complications and significantly improve your quality of life.
If you’ve been diagnosed with sleep apnea but find CPAP intolerable or ineffective, Airway Dental and More offers several proven alternatives. Custom oral appliances are the most popular CPAP alternative for patients with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea. These devices fit comfortably in your mouth like a retainer or mouthguard and work by positioning your lower jaw slightly forward to keep your airway open during sleep. They’re quiet, portable, easy to travel with, and have high patient compliance rates. For some Jacksonville patients, positional therapy devices may help if sleep apnea occurs primarily when sleeping on your back. We also provide guidance on lifestyle modifications that can reduce sleep apnea severity, including weight management, sleep position training, and avoiding alcohol before bed. Our team will evaluate your specific situation and create a personalized treatment plan. Many patients experience significant improvement with oral appliance therapy and report better sleep quality than they achieved with CPAP.
The cost of sleep apnea treatment varies depending on the type of intervention recommended and your insurance coverage. At Airway Dental and More in Jacksonville, custom oral appliances for sleep apnea typically range from $1,800 to $3,000, which includes the device fabrication, fitting appointments, and follow-up adjustments. Many medical insurance plans (not dental insurance) cover oral appliance therapy for sleep apnea when prescribed by a physician and provided by a qualified dentist, usually covering 50-80% of the cost after your deductible is met. Medicare also covers oral appliances for sleep apnea under specific conditions. We’ll verify your insurance benefits and provide a detailed cost estimate before beginning treatment. For patients without insurance coverage or those with high out-of-pocket costs, we offer flexible payment plans to make treatment accessible. Investing in sleep apnea treatment is an investment in your long-term health—untreated sleep apnea can lead to serious medical conditions that are far more expensive to treat.
You should consider seeing a sleep apnea dentist if you experience loud snoring, daytime fatigue despite getting adequate sleep hours, witnessed breathing pauses during sleep, morning headaches, difficulty concentrating, or if you’ve been diagnosed with sleep apnea but can’t tolerate CPAP therapy. At Airway Dental and More in Jacksonville, we can evaluate your airway anatomy, assess your risk for sleep-disordered breathing, and determine if you’re a candidate for oral appliance therapy. We use advanced diagnostic tools to examine your airway and tongue position and can refer you for a sleep study if you haven’t been formally diagnosed. If you’ve already been diagnosed with sleep apnea by a physician and are looking for CPAP alternatives, we can work with your doctor to provide effective treatment with a custom oral appliance. Many of our Jacksonville patients report life-changing improvements in their sleep quality, energy levels, and overall health after beginning oral appliance therapy. Don’t let poor sleep continue to impact your life—schedule a consultation to explore your treatment options.
Achieve the confident, healthy smile you deserve with personalized dental care at Airway Dental & More. Our airway and orthodontic team combines advanced technology with a compassionate approach to make every visit comfortable and stress-free. Whether you’re restoring your smile, improving function, or enhancing aesthetics, we’re here to help you reach your oral health goals with precision and care.
Ready to take the next step toward better oral health? Contact Airway Dental & More today at (904) 268-4466 or complete our contact form to schedule your consultation and discover how our team can make your smile shine.
