What Sleep Apnea Is
Sleep apnea is a condition in which breathing is repeatedly interrupted during sleep. The most common form, obstructive sleep apnea, occurs when the airway collapses or becomes blocked, stopping the breath for seconds at a time. These interruptions can happen dozens or hundreds of times a night, often without the person knowing it.
The connection between oral and airway anatomy and sleep disordered breathing is well established. Jaw position, tongue posture, the shape of the palate, and the size of the airway all play a role. Dentists trained in airway medicine are positioned to identify these factors and treat them in ways that medical providers typically do not.
Oral Appliance Therapy
Oral appliance therapy is a non-CPAP option for treating sleep apnea and snoring. A custom appliance is worn during sleep and repositions the lower jaw slightly forward, keeping the airway open. For patients who find CPAP uncomfortable, noisy, or difficult to use consistently, an oral appliance can be a more sustainable alternative.
The appliance is custom-fabricated to your bite and anatomy. It is small, quiet, and easier to travel with than a CPAP machine. For some patients it is the difference between actually treating the condition and leaving it unaddressed.
The Vivos System
The Vivos System is a non-surgical appliance therapy designed to develop the airway over time. Rather than managing symptoms, it works to address the underlying anatomy, particularly in patients whose airway development has been limited.
For children whose airway anatomy is still forming, the Vivos approach can be especially meaningful. Dr. Mark works with ENTs and pediatricians in a coordinated approach, so that dental treatment is part of a broader picture of care rather than isolated from it.
Children and Airway Health
Sleep disordered breathing in children often looks like something else entirely. Behavioral difficulties, trouble concentrating, restless sleep, and chronic mouth breathing can all be signs that a child's airway is not functioning well during sleep. These patterns are frequently missed for years, or attributed to other causes.
Dr. Mark evaluates children starting at age 2, and works alongside ENTs and pediatricians when the situation calls for it. If your child snores, seems restless during sleep, or has been flagged for attention difficulties, an airway evaluation is worth having. Early attention to airway development can make a long-term difference.
Collaboration with Medical Providers
Sleep apnea is a medical diagnosis. It requires a sleep study conducted or ordered by a physician. Dr. Mark does not diagnose sleep apnea independently. What he does is work alongside sleep physicians, ENTs, and pediatricians to coordinate treatment once a diagnosis is established, and to identify patients who may need evaluation in the first place.
As a Diplomate of the American Sleep and Breathing Academy and a member of the American Academy of Oral Systemic Health (AAOSH), Dr. Mark brings a depth of focus to this area that is uncommon in a general practice. The collaborative model he practices is the standard of care for dental sleep medicine.