Sleep Apnea Therapy at Tend in Washington DC

Common signs of sleep apnea include loud, chronic snoring, pauses in breathing during sleep, gasping or choking during sleep, morning headaches, and ongoing daytime fatigue. Some people also experience jaw pain, teeth grinding (bruxism), or difficulty concentrating during the day.

A sleep study is typically used to confirm a diagnosis. If you or your partner notice these symptoms, a dentist-led evaluation can help determine whether sleep apnea therapy or another treatment may be appropriate.

Snoring is the sound of partially restricted airflow during sleep, while sleep apnea involves repeated breathing pauses that disrupt oxygen levels and sleep quality. Not everyone who snores has sleep apnea, but loud, frequent snoring can be an early sign of airway obstruction.

Both snoring and sleep apnea may benefit from dental sleep apnea treatment, including custom oral appliances designed to support open-airway breathing and reduce nighttime disruptions.

Sleep apnea occurs when the airway becomes blocked or narrowed during sleep. The most common form, obstructive sleep apnea, happens when the throat muscles relax too much and restrict airflow.

Several factors can contribute, including jaw position, tongue size, airway space, age, weight, and genetics. Oral features like a narrow palate, crowded teeth, or teeth grinding can also signal airway strain. During your visit, we’ll review these factors and discuss whether oral appliance therapy could support your breathing during sleep.

Sleep apnea therapy is currently available at the following Tend Dental studios:

• Metro Center
• Golden Triangle

You might be a good candidate for sleep apnea therapy if you’ve been diagnosed with mild to moderate sleep apnea or prefer not to use CPAP because traditional devices are uncomfortable or difficult to manage. Dental sleep apnea treatment can also be effective for those who snore regularly or have issues like teeth grinding (bruxism), TMD/TMJ or jaw pain, or jaw tension connected to nighttime breathing problems.

That said, not everyone’s needs are the same. Candidacy for oral appliance therapy is determined through a dentist-led evaluation and coordination with a sleep doctor, often including a sleep study. At Tend Dental, we take a thoughtful, comfort-first approach to help you understand your options and decide what type of care is right for you.

Medical insurance often helps cover parts of sleep apnea care, and coverage depends on your plan and the type of treatment.

Home sleep testing

Sleep Architects’ sleep physicians are typically in-network with most major medical plans. Many plans cover a significant portion, and sometimes all, of the home sleep test, minus your copay. Your benefits are verified in advance, so you know exactly what to expect, and you only pay your confirmed copay directly to Sleep Architects.

Oral appliance therapy

Oral appliance therapy is provided by your dentist. Most dental offices, including our Tend studios, are not part of medical insurance networks.

If you have a PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) medical plan that includes out-of-network benefits, we can submit a claim to your insurance for you, which is common with many major insurance providers. If you have Medicare or an HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) plan that does not include out-of-network benefits, your medical insurance will not cover your oral appliance therapy.

Coverage amounts can vary based on your plan and deductible, so exact reimbursement can’t be confirmed ahead of time. Your Tend dentist will review insurance details with you before treatment, make sure all required paperwork is in place, and handle claim submission and follow-up to help you get the most from your medical insurance.

No referral is needed to begin. You can schedule an initial consultation, where we’ll review your symptoms, oral health, and airway indicators.

If needed, we’ll coordinate diagnostic testing with a sleep doctor to support an accurate diagnosis and determine whether sleep apnea therapy is right for you.

CPAP stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. It's a breathing machine that pumps air through your airway with a mask that needs to be worn overnight. CPAP machines have been the traditional treatment for sleep apnea, helping keep your airway open while you sleep by delivering a steady stream of pressurized air.

However, new advances in sleep apnea treatment, like oral appliance therapy, can be just as effective and far more comfortable for many patients. If you're exploring treatment options or struggling with CPAP, talk to your dentist about whether oral appliance therapy might be a better fit for your needs.

CPAP and oral appliances are both proven options for sleep apnea treatment. Sleep apnea dental appliances are custom-fitted devices worn during sleep that gently reposition the jaw to help keep the airway open.

Many patients prefer oral appliances because they’re quiet, portable, comfortable, and don’t require electricity. For those seeking sleep apnea treatment without CPAP, oral appliance therapy can be an effective option, depending on your diagnosis and sleep study results.