Can I wear an appliance if I have crowns or a missing tooth?

Usually yes, though it depends on what's there to hold it. An examination tells me whether your teeth can carry an appliance comfortably, and if something needs attention first, I'll tell you that before we start rather than afterward.

Cool water and a soft brush each morning, then let it dry in its case. No hot water and no toothpaste, since both can distort or scratch it. We'll go through all of that with you at the fitting, and there's no special solution you need to buy.

Will it help if I only snore on my back?

Possibly, and it's worth saying so at the examination, because sleeping position tells me something useful. Some people do well with an appliance and some do well simply changing how they sleep. I'd rather point you at the simpler thing when the simpler thing is enough.

My partner has moved to another room. Is that reason enough to come in?

Yes, and there's nothing to be embarrassed about in it — it's why a good number of people call the office. Bring your partner to the visit if they'll come, because they can usually describe your nights better than you can.

Snoring Treatment in Bethlehem, PA

Q: Does everyone who snores have sleep apnea?

No. A great deal of snoring is only noise. But the two can sound alike across a room, and only a physician can tell them apart, ordinarily through a sleep study. That's why I'd rather you had that answer in hand before we make anything for you.

Quieter nights, gently managed

Snoring treatment at our Bethlehem, PA dental office means a custom appliance worn during sleep that holds the lower jaw and tongue forward so air moves more quietly. At Always About Smiles I make that appliance to your own measurements, and I'll ask you first whether a physician has looked at your sleep.

The reason for the sound

Snoring is the sound of air pushing past soft tissue that has relaxed into the airway — the tongue, the soft palate, the walls of the throat. Whether it's loud, whether it's every night, whether it's worse on your back: your partner usually has better information about it than you do. Bring them along to the appointment if they'll come.

Ruling out the medical side first

Snoring on its own and snoring that goes with obstructive sleep apnea can sound much the same across a bedroom, and only a physician can tell them apart, ordinarily through a sleep study. So the first thing I'll ask is whether a doctor has looked at your sleep. If not, we'll help you arrange that before an appliance is made.

Two visits, and a custom fit

The appliance is two thin pieces that fit over your teeth and hold the lower jaw slightly forward while you sleep. We take an examination and impressions or a scan first, so it's made to your own measurements, then we fit it and see you again once you've slept in it. Patients drive over from Easton for those two short visits.

Does a mouthpiece actually quiet snoring?

For many people it does, and their partner notices before they do. Holding the lower jaw and tongue slightly forward gives the air a wider path, so there's less soft tissue for it to rattle past. I won't promise silence, because mouths differ, and we'll talk about what a reasonable result looks like for yours.

How much does snoring treatment cost in Bethlehem, PA?

You get a written fee after the examination, because it depends on the appliance and on what your teeth and jaw need. We're fee-for-service, we file your claim for you, we're good at it, and we'll push to get you reimbursed. Financing is available if you'd rather spread the cost.

Is snoring something I should be concerned about?

It's something to mention to your physician, and that's the honest answer. Snoring can be nothing more than noise, and it can also go along with obstructive sleep apnea, which only a physician can diagnose, ordinarily through a sleep study. Once a doctor has had a look, I can help with the appliance.

What are the first few nights like?

A little strange for the first week, then unremarkable. Some people wake with a tight jaw or more saliva than usual, and that generally eases. If it's still bothering you after a couple of weeks, come in and let me adjust it. An appliance that isn't being worn isn't doing anything for either of you.

Can you make one for my partner if I'm the patient?

Yes. Your partner would come in as a patient in their own right, with their own examination and their own measurements. That's often how this starts: one person in the household is already with us, and the other one is the one keeping the room awake. Both of you are welcome at the same appointment.

Will a drugstore snoring mouthpiece do the same job?

A boil-and-bite device is one size trimmed toward your mouth, so it tends to press on the gums and loosen as the night goes on. An appliance made to your own measurements holds its position and spreads the load across your teeth, which is what makes it wearable night after night rather than for a week.