Sleep Apnea Treatment in San Rafael

An oral appliance for sleep apnea is a custom-fitted device, similar to a retainer, worn during sleep. It holds your lower jaw slightly forward, the tongue comes with it, and the airway stays open. It is a quiet, mask-free option for patients with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea. At D Street Dental Group in San Rafael, Dr. Steve Truman, DDS, a member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, fits and adjusts these appliances.

They suit different patients. CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) remains the gold standard for severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Oral appliance therapy is a recognized option for mild to moderate OSA and for patients who cannot tolerate CPAP. Dr. Steve Truman, DDS, a member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, coordinates with your sleep physician so the choice is based on your diagnosis, not on what D Street Dental Group happens to offer.

Yes. A diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea from a sleep physician, usually based on a sleep study, is required before an oral appliance is made. Dentists screen for apnea, but the diagnosis belongs to medicine. If you have not been evaluated, Dr. Steve Truman, DDS, at D Street Dental Group can start the referral to a sleep physician and pick the treatment back up once your results are in.

For diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea, oral appliances are often billed to medical insurance rather than dental insurance, because apnea is a medical condition. Coverage varies by plan and by the severity of your diagnosis. D Street Dental Group is out-of-network with dental PPOs, and medical plans work differently, so Dr. Steve Truman, DDS, and the team talk through your situation and what documentation your plan will want.

Because the appliance is custom-fitted to your teeth, most patients adapt quickly. No mask, no hose, one small device that fits in a travel case. Some jaw or tooth soreness in the first mornings is common and usually fades. Dr. Steve Truman, DDS, refines the fit over follow-up visits at D Street Dental Group until it is comfortable and doing its job.

You cannot know for certain without a sleep study, but the warning signs are loud snoring, gasping or pauses in breathing that a bed partner notices, waking up tired after a full night, morning headaches, and worn or cracked teeth from clenching. Dr. Steve Truman, DDS, screens for these at D Street Dental Group during regular visits and, if the picture fits, refers you to a sleep physician for the diagnosis. Screening is a dentist's job. The diagnosis belongs to medicine.

Often, yes. Snoring is the sound of a partly blocked airway, and the appliance holds the lower jaw and tongue forward so the airway stays open, which quiets most snoring along with the apnea. D Street Dental Group still asks for a sleep study first, because snoring is also the most common sign of obstructive sleep apnea, and treating the snoring without knowing whether apnea is present would hide a real health problem. Dr. Steve Truman, DDS, will help arrange the study if you have not had one.

Jaw or tooth soreness in the first mornings, extra saliva or a dry mouth, and a bite that feels slightly off for a few minutes after you take it out. These usually fade within weeks. Over years of nightly wear, some patients see small permanent shifts in how their teeth meet, which is why Dr. Steve Truman, DDS, checks your bite at every follow-up at D Street Dental Group and shows you a short morning exercise to reset the jaw. Tell us about anything that persists; most problems are fixed with an adjustment.

Rinse it every morning, brush it with a soft toothbrush and mild soap or the cleaner we recommend, and let it dry in its case. Never use hot water, which can warp it. Bring it to every visit at D Street Dental Group so Dr. Steve Truman, DDS, can check the fit and the wear. A well-cared-for appliance typically lasts several years; it is replaced when it wears, cracks, or no longer fits after dental work or a change in your bite.