Can a Dentist Really Help with Sleep Apnoea?

Yes, a dentist can genuinely help with sleep apnoea, but it depends on the type and severity of your condition.

This article explains how dental treatment works for sleep apnoea, who it's suitable for and what to expect during treatment.

What Is Sleep Apnoea?

"Sleep apnoea isn't just about snoring; it's about interrupted breathing during sleep.

It's a condition where a person's airway becomes blocked or narrowed, causing breathing to stop and start repeatedly throughout the night, often without the person realising it's happening."

Dr. Joyti Vasudev

The most common type, obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), is like trying to breathe through a straw that keeps getting squeezed shut, happening sometimes dozens or hundreds of times per night.

This prevents the brain and body from reaching deep, restorative sleep, even if the individual thinks they've slept for eight hours.

Common symptoms of sleep apnoea include loud snoring, dry mouth, waking up tired, morning headaches, poor concentration and daytime fatigue.

In children, signs may appear differently:

• Mouth breathing

• Behavioural issues

• Difficulty concentrating at school.

Left untreated, sleep apnoea doesn't just affect sleep, but also overall health, energy and mood.

Once the underlying cause is understood, it can often be effectively managed.

What Type Of Sleep Apnoea Can A Dentist Help With?

Dentists mainly help with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), but a diagnosis should be made by a doctor first.

OSA is caused by a physical blockage of the airway and responds well to oral appliances (mouthpieces) that reposition the jaw and tongue during sleep to keep the airway open.

How Do Dental Sleep Apnoea Devices Work?

The most commonly used dental device for sleep apnoea is a mandibular advancement device (MAD), typically recommended after an assessment.

A custom-fitted mandibular advancement device:

• Looks like a mouthguard

• Is worn during sleep

• Holds the lower jaw forward

• Keeps the airway open

• Reduces snoring and breathing pauses

Who Might Be Suitable for a Sleep Apnoea Dental Device?

With the right diagnosis guiding the right treatment, a dental sleep device can be life-changing for the right patient, but it isn't suitable for everyone.

It typically works well for those with mild to moderate sleep apnoea or those who cannot tolerate a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine.

You may be a suitable candidate if you:

• Are an adult with snoring or mild to moderate OSA

• Cannot tolerate a CPAP machine

• Have healthy teeth and gums to support the device

• Have a naturally set-back lower jaw

• Are willing to attend follow-up appointments

What Happens During Dental Sleep Apnoea Treatment?

"Sleep Apnoea Treatment at The Modern Dentist doesn't start with a device; it starts with understanding why a patient is struggling to breathe during sleep.

When patients come to us with snoring, headaches or daytime fatigue, the first step is a thorough assessment of jaw position, bite, breathing and overall dental health."

Dr. Joyti Vasudev

Photos, scans and X-rays may also be taken to help us build a complete picture of how the jaws and airway work together.

If sleep apnoea is suspected, we work closely with a sleep team and arrange a sleep study to determine whether the issue is snoring, mild, moderate or severe sleep apnoea.

The typical patient journey includes:

• Consultation: Symptoms, jaw, bite and airways assessed

• Referral to a sleep team for a sleep study if needed

• Diagnosis confirmed (mild, moderate or severe)

• Digital scan and forward bite taken

• Custom mandibular advancement device (MAD) made and fitted

• Regular follow-ups to monitor symptoms and progress

Can a Dentist Diagnose Sleep Apnoea?

A dentist can't formally diagnose sleep apnoea, but they can recommend a sleep study to understand what type of sleep-disordered breathing is present, and who is best placed to manage it safely.

In severe cases, sleep doctors and medical specialists are often required as part of a multidisciplinary approach.

However, dentists and orthodontists can often spot early warning signs during routine exams.

This is because they don't just look at teeth; they assess jaw and tongue position, bite, facial development, and airway space, all of which can influence how a person breathes during sleep.

Sleep apnoea is never a one-person job.

The best outcomes come from the right diagnosis, the right team planning, and the right treatment for the patient.

Benefits of Seeing A Dentist for Sleep Apnoea

Sleep apnoea devices can be life-changing, but only for the right patient.

Because these devices rely on the teeth for support, healthy teeth and gums are essential before treatment begins.

Like any treatment, dental devices can have some side effects, but they're often temporary and manageable with proper monitoring from the right team.

Some patients may experience:

• Jaw pain/jaw joint stiffness

• Facial muscle tenderness

• Dry mouth

• Mild discomfort upon waking

• Bite changes (in rare cases, if treatment isn't properly monitored)

When Should You Speak To A Doctor First?

If you suspect sleep apnoea, the first person you should speak to is your doctor rather than your dentist, as not all sleep apnoea presents the same way.

While dentists and orthodontists can help manage OSA caused by factors such as tongue position, jaw alignment or airway anatomy, other types of apnoeas require specialist medical care.

Central sleep apnoea (CSA), for example, is a neurological sleep disorder where the brain fails to send the correct signals to breathe properly during sleep, requiring a very different treatment.

You should speak to a doctor first if you:

• Have pauses in breathing (without heavy snoring)

• Have a heart or neurological condition

• Experience severe daytime fatigue

• Wake up gasping repeatedly

A dentist plays an important role in screening and managing obstructive sleep apnea, but a doctor's diagnosis must always come first.

This is because the right treatment depends on understanding why the breathing problem is happening in the first place, with the best care always coming from the right team working together.