At Sleep Better Metrowest, most new patients think that using a CPAP machine is the only way to treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). They don’t realize that there is another treatment just as effective, approved by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine: oral appliance therapy.
Dr. George Ghaly, DDS, has spent the last 10 years making a difference in the lives of thousands of OSA patients in Marlborough and beyond. His approach with oral appliances has consistently delivered outstanding results when CPAP failed to do the same. If you also find a CPAP mask difficult to use because of the noise, the air pressure, or any other reason, contact us for a consultation today.
OSA is a common but potentially dangerous sleep disorder where your breathing repeatedly stops and starts while you sleep. This happens because the muscles in the back of your throat relax too much to allow for normal breathing. These pauses in breathing, known as apneas, can last from a few seconds to minutes and occur 30 times or more an hour. After an apnea, normal breathing resumes, sometimes with a loud snort or choking sound.
This entire process results in a fragmented, non-restorative sleep cycle, exhausting you during the day. The daytime fatigue can affect everything from your mood to your ability to concentrate on your tasks. Beyond tiredness, untreated obstructive sleep apnea has been linked to a higher risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and depression.
People with OSA often snore loudly and feel tired even after 8-10 hours of sleep. If you are overweight and have a thicker neck or narrow airway, you are more likely to develop OSA. Generally speaking, men are more likely to suffer from it than women, though the risk for women increases after menopause.
And even though chronic snoring is a common sign of OSA, not everyone who snores has it, and not everyone with it snores loudly. That’s why it is important to keep an eye out for other symptoms, too:
Observable pauses in breathing while asleep.
Sudden gasping or choking sounds during sleep, trying to breathe.
Waking up with a notably dry mouth or sore throat.
Persistent headaches upon waking.
Trouble falling or staying asleep.
Overwhelming drowsiness during the day.
Difficulty with concentration, focus, and cognitive tasks.
Increased moodiness or irritability.
A notable reduction in sexual interest or desire.
Excessive sweating during sleep (unrelated to room temperature).
High blood pressure that is difficult to control.
Challenges with short-term memory or forgetfulness.
Waking up throughout the night.
A sleep expert or primary care doctor will first examine your physical anatomy and medical history to diagnose OSA. They will ask about your symptoms, sleep patterns, and daytime sleepiness. They might also use questionnaires or sleep diaries to gather more information.
A physical exam can reveal signs indicating OSA, such as a narrowed airway, enlarged tonsils, obesity, or high blood pressure. The next step is to conduct a sleep study (polysomnography). It can be conducted in a sleep center or your own home. The test monitors your breathing patterns, oxygen levels, heart rate, and blood pressure while you sleep. If the study results show you have obstructive sleep apnea, it will also indicate its severity. When the condition is due to an anatomical issue in the nose or throat, surgery is typically recommended.
However, in most mild to moderate cases, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or oral appliances are recommended in addition to any necessary lifestyle changes.
At Sleep Better Metrowest, we fabricate a unique type of dental device – it looks like an orthodontic retainer or mouthguard – that rectifies the issue that is causing your sleep apnea.
Here is what it does:
If your obstructive sleep apnea is not too acute, this device might be all you need to say goodbye to snoring and other OSA symptoms for good. It gently adjusts your jaw to help stop the breaks in your breathing when you sleep. Walking down this avenue, you attain a simple fix for your sleep apnea without needing anything more extreme.
During your initial consultation, if Dr. Ghaly thinks your sleep apnea is more severe or because of issues with your throat or sinuses, he might refer you to an expert to check if you need surgery to breathe easier.
Just like in CPR, where adjusting the jaw forward is critical for opening the airway, our oral appliance therapy employs a similar approach for sleep apnea. You will be given an oral appliance that is comfortable, easy to use, clean, and carry with you wherever you go. Just because you cannot tolerate CPAP doesn’t mean you should be forced to compromise your sleep and live with a debilitating condition.
At Sleep Better Metrowest, located in Marlborough, MA, we recognize that sleep apnea is a major barrier to living a fulfilling life. This is why our approach to treating this complex condition is deeply personalized. Dr. George Ghaly, DDS, one of the leading sleep medicine dentists in the Metrowest area, offers a proven solution to obstructive sleep apnea, born from his personal experience.
After being diagnosed with OSA himself, Dr. Ghaly took a different route. Instead of the usual CPAP machine, he created an oral appliance that worked wonders from the first night. After seeing the impressive results, he spent the next decade sharing this breakthrough with other OSA patients, crafting custom devices that do more than just help you sleep — they transform your life.
These dental appliances are precision-engineered to target sleep apnea at its root by keeping your airway open all night. The result is a drastic reduction in your snoring, the wake-ups throughout the night, and the next-day exhaustion.
Oral appliances work silently, without a CPAP machine’s background hum and airflow noise, which means you and your partner sleep better.
Power outages or places without reliable electricity would not impact your ability to use your dental appliance. You can continue your OSA treatment uninterrupted, no matter where you are.
There is no assembly required each night. Just pop the appliance in your mouth, and you are ready for sleep. This simplicity also means effective treatment, as you are more likely to be disciplined about using it consistently every night.
Due to the air flow, CPAP machines can leave you waking up with a dry mouth or sore throat. Oral appliances do not force any air into your lungs, which reduces the chance of waking up feeling parched.
Cleaning the device is as simple as brushing it without needing any cleaning equipment or supplies.
Your mouthguard-looking device integrates smoothly into your bedtime routine. Brush your teeth, insert the appliance, and you are done—no adjusting straps, cleaning tubes, or refilling water chambers.
When using a CPAP machine, the entire house can “hear” it. When you are using an oral appliance, on the other hand, only YOU are the one who knows about it. You can get up in the middle of the night without wearing noticeable equipment, making it feel less intrusive.
Oral appliances are designed to fit your teeth-gums-jaw, making them more effective and comfortable.
Forget lugging around a bulky CPAP machine and hunting for power outlets. Our oral appliance fits in your pocket, making it perfect for travel, camping, or any adventure away from home.
Millions of Americans struggle to achieve peaceful sleep and consistent rest every night. With over 84 identified conditions that can disrupt your sleep, it’s no wonder the quality of life and health are steadily declining for so many. Among these, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) stands out for its dangerous, yet often unnoticed, impact.
OSA manifests through symptoms like extreme tiredness during the day to more severe complications such as high blood pressure and heart issues. It repeatedly interrupts your breathing due to partial or full blockage of the air pathways when sleeping. This blockage is more likely to occur because, during sleep, the throat and tongue muscles relax significantly, making it easier for the airway to collapse. A complete blockage halts breathing entirely and causes oxygen levels to plummet.
If you have OSA, you are bound to wake up frequently throughout the night to resume breathing. Or, if you notice your partner snoring loudly and then waking up suddenly, gasping for breath, it’s a sign that they might need to be checked for sleep apnea.
Thankfully, effective treatments are available, such as CPAP (Continuous Positive Air Pressure) machines and oral appliances, designed to ensure the airway stays open during sleep.
Dr. Ghaly, recognized by the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, focuses on treating OSA through oral appliance therapy (OAT). OAT is a great alternative for people who cannot tolerate CPAP for any reason or don’t need to undergo surgical intervention. After you have received your sleep apnea diagnosis, Dr. Ghaly can fabricate an oral appliance for your mouth to advance your lower jaw slightly.
These appliances are made from FDA-approved materials and look similar to a sports mouthguard or orthodontic retainer. You are supposed to wear them whenever you go to sleep. The discreet, portable acrylic appliance:
Move your lower jaw forward
Prevents your tongue from blocking the airway, and
Increases the airway space to facilitate better breathing
As a result, you notice an overnight improvement in your sleep apnea symptoms, including that thunderous snoring your household members may have complained about.
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