Treating Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Education, Testing, and Treatment Options

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Are you waking up exhausted, snoring loudly at night or struggling with unexplained symptoms like morning headaches, brain fog or fatigue? If so, you may want to learn about sleep apnea. What is sleep apnea?

At Carlson TMJ & Sleep, we believe education is the first step toward relief. Understanding what sleep apnea is and how it impacts your health empowers you to take action and get your sleep back. 

If you think something isn’t right with your sleep, you’re not overreacting. It’s time to get answers. Untreated sleep apnea can cause extreme daytime drowsiness, making it possible to fall asleep unexpectedly and increasing the risk of accidents.

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What Causes
Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea occurs when the muscles in the back of the throat, including the soft palate, relax too deeply during sleep, causing the airway to narrow or collapse (narrowed airway) and restricting airflow.

Contributing factors may include:

  • Jaw structure and airway anatomy
  • Excess tissue in the throat
  • Clenching and grinding
  • TMJ dysfunction
  • Weight changes
  • Aging
  • Family history

Obstructive sleep apnea specifically happens when these throat muscles relax, including those supporting the soft palate, leading to a narrowed airway or complete closure during breathing.

At Carlson TMJ & Sleep, we pay close attention to jaw position and airway mechanics.

Dr. Grace Carlson is a Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine and evaluates how oral structures influence nighttime breathing.

Common Signs and Symptoms

Common symptoms of sleep apnea include snoring loudly, gasping or choking sounds during sleep, morning headache, dry mouth upon waking, and sleep disruption. Symptoms may include:
  • Snore loudly
  • Gasping or choking sound during sleep
  • Morning headache
  • Dry mouth upon waking
  • Daytime sleepiness
  • Brain fog
  • Irritability
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Jaw soreness or clenching

Bed partners are often the first people to notice pauses in breathing. According to PubMed, untreated sleep apnea is associated with increased cardiovascular strain, metabolic dysfunction, and cognitive impairment. If you experience several of these symptoms, a sleep evaluation is a great next step.

Why Sleep Apnea
Is Serious

Sleep apnea is not just an inconvenience. It affects long-term health.

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute links untreated obstructive sleep apnea to:

  • High blood pressure
  • Heart disease
  • Stroke (stroke increases)
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Increased accident risk due to fatigue
  • Cardiovascular problems, including heart attack and irregular heartbeats

Untreated sleep apnea increases the risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, and irregular heartbeats. Chronic untreated sleep apnea may also lead to metabolic disorders, such as type 2 diabetes.

How Providers Diagnose Sleep Apnea

Diagnosis begins with a thorough health history and symptom review.

From there,
sleep testing may include:
  • At-home sleep testing (such as the Alice Night One system)
  • Physician-coordinated laboratory sleep studies when needed
At-home
testing measures:
  • Breathing interruptions
  • Oxygen levels
  • Heart rate
  • Sleep disruptions

Testing is simple, discreet, and typically completed in your own bed.

How Is Sleep Apnea Treated?

Treatment depends on severity and patient needs.

Options may include:
  • Sleep apnea treatment to treat sleep apnea and prevent complications
  • Oral appliance therapy
  • CPAP therapy (when appropriate)
  • TMJ and muscle-based therapy
  • Lifestyle modifications, including weight loss
  • Surgical options to remove excess tissue or correct structural problems in the throat
  • Position therapy devices to help manage positional obstructive sleep apnea by encouraging side sleeping
  • Implantable nerve stimulators to prevent airway collapse during sleep
  • Ongoing monitoring

CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machines are the most common treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. These devices deliver continuous air pressure to keep the airway open during sleep.

For patients who cannot tolerate CPAP, custom oral appliance therapy gently repositions the jaw to keep the airway open as you sleep. The right treatment is always personalized. There is no universal solution — and no patient should feel pressured into one.

How Oral Device Therapy Works

Sleep apnea occurs when the muscles and soft tissues in the throat relax too deeply during sleep. This causes the airway to collapse, narrow or become partially blocked, causing lapses in breathing, snoring and frequent awakenings throughout the night.

Oral appliances address this problem by gently repositioning the lower jaw forward or stabilizing the tongue. Most devices used today move the lower jaw forward and maintain a more open airway, which helps keep the airway open by preventing the collapse of soft tissue in the throat. These are called mandibular advancement devices (MADs).

This small adjustment creates more space in the airway and helps prevent the tongue and soft tissues from falling backward during sleep.

Research shows that oral appliances can significantly improve symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea, including daytime fatigue and concentration issues.

Wondering if oral appliance therapy could help you sleep better? Our team can evaluate your airway and discuss your treatment options.

The result can include:

  • Fewer breathing interruptions
  • Reduced snoring
  • Improved oxygen flow
  • More consistent sleep cycles
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The Oral Device Therapy Process

Treatment typically follows a structured process designed to provide both comfort and effectiveness.

It is essential to consult a qualified dentist, preferably one trained in sleep medicine or dental sleep therapy, for the custom fitting and ongoing management of oral appliances. Regular follow-up visits with your doctor and dental provider are important to manage side effects and ensure treatment effectiveness.

Sleep Evaluation and Diagnosis

Patients first complete a sleep study or at-home sleep test to confirm a diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea.

Custom Appliance Design

Once diagnosed, a custom oral appliance is created based on digital impressions of your teeth and jaw. Achieving a custom fit is essential for both comfort and effectiveness, as it ensures the device is tailored to your unique anatomy. Custom-made oral appliances generally provide better results than over-the-counter options, which often fail to provide proper airway support.

Appliance Fitting and Adjustment

Your provider carefully adjusts the appliance to achieve the ideal jaw position for airway stability and comfort. The appliance is regularly checked and adjusted as needed to ensure it fits comfortably for long-term use.

Follow-Up and Monitoring

Follow-up visits ensure the device continues to work effectively and comfortably. In some cases, a follow-up sleep test may be recommended to confirm treatment success.
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The Connection Between TMJ and Sleep Apnea

Sleep and jaw health are closely linked.

Clenching and grinding can:

  • Strain airway muscles
  • Increase jaw tension
  • Contribute to TMJ pain
  • Disrupt restorative sleep
Dr. Carlson’s advanced training in orofacial pain allows her to assess both airway and muscular contributors to symptoms–an approach that sets our clinic apart.

Patients often find that addressing sleep apnea improves jaw comfort and vice versa.

You Don’t Have
to Live Exhausted

At Carlson TMJ & Sleep, we combine advanced dental sleep medicine with compassionate, whole-person care.

If you’ve been searching for answers, we are here to listen and help.

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