What Is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. These pauses can last from a few seconds to over a minute and may occur dozens or hundreds of times each night. Your brain has to partially wake you up to restart breathing, which prevents you from getting the deep, restorative sleep your body needs.

The most common type is obstructive sleep apnea, which happens when the muscles in your throat relax too much and block your airway. Your tongue, soft palate, or other tissues collapse backward, cutting off airflow. As oxygen levels drop, your body triggers a breathing response that briefly wakes you, though you probably won’t remember these interruptions in the morning.

Recognizing the Signs

Many people have sleep apnea without realizing it because the symptoms seem unrelated to breathing problems. Your bed partner might notice loud snoring, gasping, or choking sounds at night—classic warning signs that something’s wrong. You might experience:

• Chronic loud snoring
• Gasping or choking during sleep
• Long pauses in breathing witnessed by others
• Waking up with a dry mouth or sore throat
• Morning headaches
• Extreme daytime fatigue despite spending enough time in bed
• Difficulty concentrating or memory problems
• Irritability and mood changes
• Falling asleep during the day at inappropriate times

These symptoms deserve attention because untreated sleep apnea increases your risk for high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and depression. The condition also makes driving dangerous when severe fatigue impairs your reaction time and judgment.

Oral Appliance Therapy

Our practice uses removable oral appliances to help you combat snoring and open your airway while you sleep. This enables you to breathe easier, sleep well, and live better. These custom-fitted devices look similar to night guards or sports mouthguards, but they’re specifically designed to treat sleep apnea by repositioning your jaw and tongue.

Dr. Fernandez and Dr. Manzanares create oral appliances that hold your lower jaw slightly forward during sleep. This forward position keeps your airway open by preventing the soft tissues in your throat from collapsing backward. The result is unobstructed breathing, reduced or eliminated snoring, and significantly better sleep quality.

Oral appliances offer several advantages over CPAP machines, the traditional treatment for sleep apnea. They’re small, portable, and quiet—no mask, hose, or noisy motor. Many patients who couldn’t tolerate CPAP find oral appliances much more comfortable and use them consistently, which matters most for successful treatment.

Custom Fitting Makes the Difference

Over-the-counter anti-snoring devices might seem tempting, but they rarely work effectively and can even cause problems. Dr. Fernandez takes precise impressions of your teeth to create an appliance that fits perfectly and positions your jaw correctly. A proper fit ensures the device stays in place all night and moves your jaw just the right amount—not too little to be ineffective and not too much to cause jaw discomfort.

Your custom appliance will feel snug but comfortable. Most patients adjust to wearing it within a few nights. Dr. Manzanares will make necessary adjustments during follow-up visits to optimize comfort and effectiveness.

Night Guards for Teeth Grinding

Many sleep apnea patients also grind or clench their teeth at night, a condition called bruxism. Grinding wears down tooth enamel, causes jaw pain, and can lead to headaches and damaged teeth. Night guards protect your teeth from the harmful effects of grinding by providing a cushioning barrier.

Dr. Fernandez can create custom night guards that shield your teeth while you sleep. These guards fit precisely over your upper or lower teeth and are made from durable materials designed to withstand grinding forces. Like oral appliances for sleep apnea, custom night guards fit better and work more effectively than drugstore versions.

Some patients need treatment for sleep apnea and protection against teeth grinding. Dr. Manzanares will evaluate your needs and recommend the best solution, including a specialized appliance that simultaneously addresses both issues.

The Treatment Process

Getting started with sleep apnea treatment in Albuquerque begins with a thorough evaluation. Dr. Fernandez will review your symptoms, medical history, and any sleep study results you have. If you haven’t had a sleep study yet, he may recommend one to confirm the diagnosis and determine the severity of your sleep apnea.

Once sleep apnea is confirmed, Dr. Fernandez will discuss whether an oral appliance is appropriate for your situation. These devices work best for mild to moderate sleep apnea and patients who can’t tolerate CPAP therapy. He’ll explain how the appliance works, what to expect, and answer all your questions.

Creating your custom appliance involves taking detailed impressions and measurements. When your device is ready, Dr. Manzanares will fit it carefully, teach you how to use and care for it, and adjust it for optimal comfort and function.

Follow-Up Care Matters

Successful sleep apnea treatment requires ongoing monitoring. Dr. Fernandez will schedule follow-up appointments to ensure your appliance works properly and your symptoms improve. You might need a follow-up sleep study to verify that the device keeps your airway open.

Regular dental checkups also allow Dr. Manzanares to monitor your jaw joint, teeth, and oral health to ensure the appliance isn’t causing any problems. Most patients experience only positive effects, but occasional adjustments help maintain long-term success and comfort.

Sleep Apnea Treatment in Albuquerque

Learn more about our sleep apnea treatment in Albuquerque, New Mexico, by calling 505-898-8063 and meeting with our dentist, Dr. Gilbert Fernandez. Don’t let sleep apnea steal your energy and compromise your health. Dr. Gilbert Fernandez and Dr. Michael Manzanares are ready to help you find the relief you need through comfortable, effective oral appliance therapy.