Sleep Apnea Treatment in Long Island

Find relief from sleep apnea with a comfortable CPAP alternative on Long Island. Meadowbrook Dental Care offers custom oral appliances in Plainview & Mineola. Breathe easier.

What is Sleep Apnea? A Serious Threat to Your Health

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a common and serious sleep disorder characterized by repeated pauses in breathing during sleep. These pauses occur when the soft tissues in the back of the throat collapse, blocking the airway. While loud, disruptive snoring is a common symptom, the health consequences are far more severe. Untreated sleep apnea prevents your brain and body from getting the oxygen they need, which dramatically increases the risk for serious health problems like high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. At Meadowbrook Dental Care, we collaborate with your healthcare team to treat sleep apnea using a comfortable and convenient dental solution.

Oral Appliance Therapy: A Comfortable CPAP Alternative

While the CPAP machine is a standard treatment for sleep apnea, many patients find it loud, bulky, and difficult to tolerate. For patients with mild to moderate OSA, or for those who are CPAP-intolerant, we offer a highly effective solution: custom oral appliance therapy.

An oral appliance is a small, discreet device that resembles a sports mouthguard and is worn only during sleep. It is custom-fabricated to fit your mouth perfectly. The appliance works by gently shifting your lower jaw slightly forward, a movement that prevents the soft tissues from collapsing and keeps your airway open throughout the night.

The benefits of oral appliance therapy include:

Comfortable & Easy to Wear: The custom fit is far more comfortable than a bulky CPAP mask.
Completely Silent: It allows you and your partner to enjoy a quiet night's sleep.
Portable & Convenient: The small device is easy to travel with, so you never have to miss a night of treatment.
High Compliance Rate: Because it's so comfortable and convenient, patients are far more likely to use it consistently, leading to better health outcomes.

Your Sleep Apnea Questions Answered

How do I know if I have sleep apnea? Common signs include loud snoring, gasping or choking during sleep, morning headaches, and excessive daytime sleepiness. However, a formal diagnosis can only be made by a medical doctor, usually after a sleep study. We can screen for risk factors and then refer you to a physician for diagnosis.
Can a dentist diagnose sleep apnea? No. A dentist cannot provide a medical diagnosis for sleep apnea. Our role is to screen for the condition and, once you have been diagnosed by a physician, to create the custom oral appliance as a prescribed treatment. We work collaboratively with your medical team.
How is a custom oral appliance different from an over-the-counter anti-snoring guard? Over-the-counter guards are not FDA-approved for the treatment of sleep apnea. They have a generic, ill-fitting design that can be ineffective and may even cause harm to your jaw joints. A custom appliance is a prescription medical device, precisely fabricated and adjusted by a trained dentist to ensure both safety and effectiveness.
Does insurance cover oral appliance therapy? Since sleep apnea is a medical condition, oral appliance therapy is typically covered by medical insurance plans, rather than dental insurance. Our team is experienced in handling medical billing and can assist you in navigating your benefits.

Why Choose Us for Your Sleep Apnea Treatment

Treating sleep apnea requires a dental team with specific training in dental sleep medicine. At Meadowbrook Dental Care, we offer an expert and collaborative approach to care.

A Collaborative Approach with Your Doctor: We work hand-in-hand with your physician or sleep specialist to ensure you receive a proper diagnosis and an integrated, effective treatment plan.
Expertise in Dental Sleep Medicine: Our dentists have advanced training in screening for sleep apnea and in designing and fitting custom oral appliances for a successful and comfortable result.
Custom, High-Quality Appliances: We use only the highest-quality, FDA-approved oral appliances, taking precise digital impressions to ensure a perfect fit that is both effective and comfortable.
Care in Convenient Long Island Locations: We provide this life-changing treatment for our communities at both our Plainview and Mineola offices.