Sleep Better With Sleep Apnea Treatment
Sleep Apnea Treatment in Vancouver, WA
Loud snoring, gasping for air at night, and waking up exhausted are not just annoying. They can be signs of a sleep-disrupting condition that affects your heart, your energy, and your long-term health. Sleep apnea is far more common than most people realize, and most cases go undiagnosed for years.
At Today’s Dentistry in Vancouver, WA, we treat sleep apnea through customized oral appliance therapy. Rather than offering a one-size-fits-all mouth guard, our team draws on years of focused training in dental sleep medicine to match each patient with the appliance and treatment plan best suited to their anatomy, their symptoms, and their lifestyle. Many patients come to us for oral appliance therapy because they have struggled with CPAP and are looking for a more comfortable alternative.
Why Experience Matters in Sleep Apnea Treatment
Oral appliance therapy is not as simple as fitting a mouth guard. Choosing the right device, positioning it correctly, and managing the way your bite responds over time all require specialized training that most general dentists do not pursue.
Dr. Arlauskas has invested years in advanced continuing education in dental sleep medicine, studying under multiple respected sleep apnea educators from across North America. That training has included year-long study groups dedicated entirely to sleep medicine and dental sleep apnea treatment, along with participation in collaborative educational programs and resources developed to help other dentists incorporate sleep apnea treatment into their practices. Your treatment plan reflects real clinical experience, not guesswork.
Appliance Selection Should Never Be One Size Fits All
There are dozens of oral appliance designs available, and they are not interchangeable. The right choice depends on factors like whether you grind your teeth, the position of your remaining teeth, your jaw structure, and how your airway is obstructed. We offer multiple appliance designs, including EMA, TAP, SomnoMed, and newer digitally designed appliances, and we have seen excellent results with newer appliance technologies.
Many patients find these newer designs more comfortable, easier to adjust to, and less likely to need frequent adjustments compared to older appliance styles. During your consultation, we evaluate your specific situation to recommend the appliance most likely to work for you, not whichever device happens to be on hand.
What to Expect From Treatment
- Evaluation and Diagnosis: Sleep apnea should be formally diagnosed by a physician or sleep specialist, typically through a home sleep test or an in-lab sleep study. Once you have a diagnosis, we work directly with you and, when needed, your physician to determine whether oral appliance therapy is the right fit for your case.
- Custom Appliance Fabrication: If oral appliance therapy is recommended, we take detailed impressions or digital scans to design an appliance customized to your mouth. We select the appliance design best suited to your anatomy and symptoms rather than defaulting to a single device for every patient.
- Adjustment and Monitoring: Your appliance is fine-tuned over a series of visits to find the position that controls your symptoms while keeping you comfortable. We monitor your progress closely during this period and make adjustments as needed.
- Long-Term Follow-Up Care: Oral appliance therapy does not end once your device fits well. Bite relationships can shift over time, and appliances need periodic evaluation to confirm they are still working effectively and not creating unwanted changes. We schedule regular follow-up visits to monitor your results, address any side effects early, and keep your treatment working for the long run.
What Makes Our Approach Different
- Years of advanced training in dental sleep medicine, including study under leading sleep apnea educators
- Access to multiple appliance designs, including newer technologies that many patients find more comfortable than older devices
- Treatment plans customized to your anatomy and symptoms instead of a one-size-fits-all device
- Ongoing monitoring to manage bite changes and side effects over time
- Experience helping patients navigate medical insurance coverage for oral appliance therapy
- In-house care from diagnosis support through long-term follow-up
Oral Appliance Therapy vs. CPAP
| Factor | Oral Appliance Therapy | CPAP |
| Comfort | Small, custom-fitted device worn in the mouth | Mask and hose worn over nose or face |
| Travel | Compact and easy to pack | Requires equipment and a power source |
| Noise | Silent | Some noise from the machine |
| Electricity | Not needed | Required to operate |
| Best for | Mild to moderate OSA, or severe OSA when CPAP is not tolerated | Often first-line for moderate to severe OSA |
Some patients also benefit from combination therapy, using a lower-pressure CPAP setting alongside an oral appliance, which can improve comfort and provide a backup option for travel or power outages.
Navigating Insurance for Sleep Apnea Treatment
Oral appliance therapy is typically billed through medical insurance rather than dental insurance, which can be confusing for patients. Our team has experience working with medical insurance carriers and is in-network with several major plans. We help review your benefits and walk you through your coverage so you understand your costs before moving forward. Most patients pay between $0 and $500 out of pocket after their medical insurance benefit is applied.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I have sleep apnea?
A formal diagnosis comes from a physician or sleep specialist, usually through a home sleep test or an overnight sleep study. If you snore loudly, gasp or choke during sleep, or wake up feeling exhausted despite a full night in bed, it is worth bringing up with your doctor.
Will my appliance need adjustments over time?
Yes. Bite relationships and jaw positioning can shift gradually with long-term appliance use. Regular follow-up visits allow us to catch these changes early and make adjustments before they become a bigger issue.
Does insurance cover oral appliance therapy?
Often, yes. Oral appliance therapy is typically billed through medical insurance, and we are in-network with several major carriers. We review your specific benefits with you before treatment begins.
What if I cannot tolerate CPAP?
Many patients who struggle with CPAP find oral appliance therapy to be a more comfortable, sustainable option. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recognizes oral appliances as an appropriate alternative for patients with severe sleep apnea who cannot tolerate CPAP.
Start Sleeping Better With a Customized Treatment Plan
If snoring, daytime fatigue, or a sleep apnea diagnosis has been affecting your life, a customized oral appliance may be the comfortable, long-term solution you have been looking for. Call Today’s Dentistry at (360) 356-7791 or use our online scheduling tool to set up your consultation. We are happy to review your sleep study results, discuss appliance options, and help you understand your insurance coverage before you commit to anything.
