Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. It affects up to 1 in 5 American adults (many undiagnosed) and often presents as loud, chronic snoring. In Boston, particularly downtown near South Station, Congress Dental Group offers specialized sleep apnea treatment — using custom oral appliances and patient-centered care — to help you breathe easily and sleep soundly. Untreated sleep apnea can dramatically increase risks of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes and more, so early treatment is vital. This in-depth guide explains what sleep apnea is, how dentists treat it in Boston’s Financial District, and why Congress Dental is a top choice for treatment near South Station. Loud snoring and gasping are common in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which affects roughly 20% of adults.
Sleep apnea is most often obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) — a condition where throat muscles relax and block the airway during sleep. An apnea event is a pause in breathing that can occur hundreds of times per night. Each pause briefly wakes the brain to reopen the airway, fragmenting sleep and causing drops in blood oxygen. People with OSA typically snore loudly and may gasp or choke as breathing resumes. (About half of loud snorers actually have OSA.) Less commonly, central sleep apnea occurs when the brain fails to signal the breathing muscles; this is usually managed by a sleep specialist.
Common signs and symptoms of OSA include:
Chronic loud snoring, often noticed by a bed partner.
Daytime fatigue or sleepiness despite sufficient hours in bed.
Morning headaches or dry mouth, from mouth-breathing at night.
Waking gasping or choking during sleep (often the patient doesn’t remember).
Impaired concentration, irritability or mood changes during the day.
Risk factors for OSA include being male (especially middle-aged or older), overweight, or having a large neck circumference. A small jaw, large tongue or tonsils, and nasal obstructions (deviated septum, allergies) can also narrow the airway. Family history is another clue: sleep apnea can run in families. Even healthy-weight people can have OSA if their anatomy is prone to collapse.
Ignoring sleep apnea isn’t just a nuisance – it has serious health consequences. Chronic oxygen deprivation during sleep triggers stress responses in the body. Over time, untreated OSA significantly raises the risk of high blood pressure, stroke, heart attacks, irregular heart rhythms, and heart failure. It also contributes to type 2 diabetes, depression, and cognitive decline. In fact, patients with moderate-to-severe OSA are more likely to die from any cause if they go untreated.
The daytime effects of OSA are equally dangerous: severe tiredness makes it difficult to concentrate or drive safely. Untreated sleep apnea is linked to poor performance at work and school, and even increased risk of motor vehicle accidents from dozing off behind the wheel. Children with OSA may underperform in school due to fragmented sleep. Mood and mental health suffer as well – sleep apnea can cause irritability, depression, memory problems and other issues.
In short, sleep apnea damages your heart, brain and overall well-being. The good news is it is treatable. If you or your partner suspect sleep apnea, seeking expert care (such as at Congress Dental Group near South Station) is a smart step for your health and safety.
Many patients first suspect sleep apnea because a partner notices loud snoring with pauses. Reports of someone choking or gasping at night are red flags. Others feel extreme daytime sleepiness despite “enough” sleep. Classic symptoms of OSA are well-documented: chronic snoring, daytime fatigue, morning headaches, and difficulty concentrating. If you live or work near South Station or downtown Boston and experience these symptoms, it’s important to get checked. Congress Dental Group has an office just a short walk from South Station, making it easy for commuters to get a consultation.
If you have symptoms such as:
Regular loud snoring (especially if a partner complains),
Frequent nighttime awakenings or gasping for air,
Waking up with a dry mouth, headache or sore throat (due to mouth-breathing),
Feeling very tired or sleepy during the day (even after a full night’s sleep),
you may have sleep apnea. Doctors estimate about 20–25% of adults have some form of sleep apnea, but 90% of cases are undiagnosed. Don’t ignore these signs – get evaluated. The sleep specialists at Congress Dental Group near South Station can perform in-office assessments and arrange sleep testing to determine if sleep apnea is present.
Before treatment, a sleep apnea diagnosis is needed. This usually involves a sleep study (polysomnography) that records breathing patterns, oxygen levels and other data during sleep. Traditionally, this meant overnight lab testing, but many clinics (including ours) now use home sleep apnea tests. You can take a portable monitor home for a few nights, then return it for analysis. This convenient approach can confirm OSA without spending a night in a lab.
During your first sleep apnea consultation at Congress Dental, the dentist will review your medical and dental history, go over symptoms (snoring, daytime sleepiness, etc.), and examine your airway, jaw and teeth. They may refer you for a sleep study if needed. Once data is gathered, the dentist and your physician will determine the diagnosis and severity of sleep apnea. Based on this, a customized treatment plan is developed. For many mild-to-moderate OSA patients, Congress Dental offers oral appliance therapy (a dentist-fitted mouthpiece).
If your sleep study confirms sleep apnea, Congress Dental can coordinate with your doctor or a sleep specialist to ensure all aspects of your care are covered, including any insurance requirements. The goal is a smooth process from diagnosis to comfortable treatment.
For many patients who snore or have OSA, dentists offer an excellent CPAP alternative: custom oral appliances. These are FDA-approved devices that fit over the teeth (like a mouthguard) and gently reposition the jaw and tongue to keep the airway open during sleep. The most common type is a mandibular advancement device (MAD), which moves the lower jaw forward. By preventing collapse of the airway, these appliances stop snoring and apneas. Research confirms that well-fitted oral appliances can significantly reduce breathing pauses and improve sleep.
Oral appliance therapy (OAT) is recommended by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine for mild to moderate OSA. It has become a core part of dental sleep medicine. The key benefits of an oral appliance include:
Comfort and convenience: Patients wear a small, quiet mouthpiece instead of a mask. It’s easy to adjust to and usually free of claustrophobia.
Portability: Unlike bulky CPAP machines, an oral appliance travels easily. Take it on business trips, vacations or camping.
High compliance: Studies show people tolerate oral appliances better than CPAP, leading to better usage and sleep results.
Quiet operation: No noise or air pressure – just natural breathing.
Reduced snoring: By holding the jaw forward, appliances eliminate the tissue vibrations that cause snoring.
Congress Dental Group and other sleep specialists fit custom-made oral appliance devices (like the MAD shown) to gently advance the jaw. This keeps the airway open, reduces snoring and prevents apneas.
Some patients still need CPAP (especially in severe cases), but many find dental devices a more comfortable solution. At Congress Dental in Boston, Dr. and team will design and adjust the device for the best fit. Regular follow-ups ensure the appliance effectively stops apnea events. If needed, our office can provide home sleep testing with the device in place to verify treatment success.
CPAP remains the gold-standard sleep apnea treatment. It pumps pressurized air through a mask to hold the airway open. CPAP is extremely effective for almost all OSA patients. However, many find masks uncomfortable, invasive and noisy, leading to poor compliance. In practice, about 50% or more of patients who are prescribed CPAP do not stick with it long-term. For those patients, or those who simply prefer not to use a machine at night, an oral appliance is a proven alternative.
Beyond devices, there are additional ways to improve sleep apnea:
Lifestyle modifications: Losing excess weight often reduces OSA severity. Sleeping on one’s side (not on the back) can help keep the airway open. Avoiding alcohol or sedative medications before bed prevents extra muscle relaxation in the throat. Treating nasal allergies or congestion (with decongestants, nasal steroids or surgery) can improve airflow. Smoking cessation also reduces airway inflammation.
Oral Surgery: In some cases, procedures like uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (removal of throat tissue) or tonsillectomy may be options. Dentists often collaborate with ENT surgeons for comprehensive care.
Inspire® Therapy: This is an implantable nerve stimulator that tells the tongue to move forward during sleep. It’s an option for patients who cannot tolerate CPAP or oral appliances, often used in large medical centers.
Dental Night Guards/TMJ appliances: Some non-OSA snoring (primary snoring) can respond to simple anti-snoring dental devices, but true sleep apnea typically requires a more specialized MAD device. Congress Dental clinicians are experts in dental sleep medicine and will guide you to the right device.
Weight loss, increased exercise, good sleep hygiene and managing comorbidities (like hypothyroidism) can all help reduce sleep apnea. Congress Dental will discuss these lifestyle strategies with you as part of a multidisciplinary approach. Our team often partners with physicians and sleep specialists to ensure you get both medical and dental solutions.
Congress Dental Group is uniquely positioned to help Boston patients with sleep apnea, especially those near South Station, the Financial District, and Downtown. Our office at 160 Federal St. sits just a block from South Station, making appointments convenient for commuters in Boston’s Financial District and nearby neighborhoods. We serve patients from South Station, Downtown Crossing, Chinatown, Beacon Hill, Back Bay and beyond.
Specialized expertise: Our team, led by Dr. Robert Page, includes prosthodontists trained in dental sleep medicine. They understand the connection between oral structures and airway health. Dr. Page has over two decades of experience in comprehensive dentistry, including oral appliances for snoring and sleep apnea.
State-of-the-art technology: We use digital 3D scanning (iTero) to capture precise dental impressions for perfect-fitting appliances. In-office sleep testing devices allow convenient diagnosis.
Integrated care: Congress Dental works closely with local sleep physicians and ENTs. We can coordinate your care, ensuring that CPAP titration or specialist referrals happen smoothly when needed.
Comfort and convenience: As a modern, patient-friendly office, we emphasize gentle care and patient comfort. Your sleep apnea treatment happens in the same convenient downtown setting as your regular dental care, saving you time.
Insurance and financing: We offer patient financing options and will help you navigate medical insurance coverage for sleep apnea appliances (many plans cover them as durable medical devices).
Our Boston office at Federal St. is conveniently located near South Station and Boston’s Financial District. We proudly serve patients across downtown Boston neighborhoods and make sleep apnea treatment easily accessible.
We also understand dental anxiety – if needed, we offer sedation dentistry to help you relax through longer appointments. Congress Dental is one of the few practices in the area that provides both excellent general dentistry and advanced sleep apnea therapy under one roof. You can fix snoring and improve your smile at the same visit if you wish!
Visiting Congress Dental for sleep apnea is simple and informative. Here’s what typically happens:
Initial Evaluation: We’ll discuss your snoring, sleep habits and daytime fatigue. Our dentist will review any sleep study results or questionnaires you’ve done. We’ll examine your mouth, jaw, tongue, throat and bite (for teeth grinding or TMJ issues).
Diagnostic Testing: If a sleep study hasn’t been done, we may prescribe an at-home sleep apnea test for you to take home. This involves sleeping with a small monitor for a night, then returning it for analysis. It quickly reveals the presence and severity of OSA.
Tailored Treatment Plan: Based on findings, we’ll recommend the best therapy. For many patients, this is a custom-fitted oral appliance designed in our office to hold your jaw open at night. We will take digital impressions and send them to a lab for your device.
Device Fitting: Once your custom appliance is ready, we’ll schedule a fitting. We’ll adjust the tension so that your jaw is advanced just the right amount for effective breathing without discomfort.
Follow-Up and Monitoring: After you start using the device, we’ll see you for follow-up to check comfort and effectiveness. We may recommend a follow-up sleep test to objectively confirm that apneas and snoring have improved. You can expect a few incremental adjustments for optimum results.
Ongoing Support: We will also monitor your dental health. Some patients experience minor side effects like jaw soreness, excess saliva or dental changes; these are managed with adjustments. Our goal is comfortable therapy that you stick with.
Throughout this process, our team provides education and support. We’ll explain how to care for your oral appliance and emphasize good sleep habits. We work hand-in-hand with your physician or a sleep specialist, so your treatment is medically sound and covered by insurance when possible.
How do dentists treat sleep apnea? Dentists with training in sleep medicine fit custom oral appliances (mouthguards) that gently advance the lower jaw. This keeps the airway open and prevents pauses in breathing. Oral appliance therapy is FDA-approved for mild-to-moderate obstructive sleep apnea. It’s a quiet, comfortable alternative to CPAP masks. Congress Dental specializes in this therapy, ensuring each device fits your bite perfectly.
Is snoring the same as sleep apnea? Not always. Snoring is common and does not always mean you have apnea. Research suggests about half of people who snore loudly have obstructive sleep apnea. If snoring is accompanied by gasping or daytime sleepiness, it may indicate OSA. In any case, chronic snoring should be evaluated because it often precedes sleep apnea.
Will my dentist do a sleep study? Dentists like those at Congress Dental can’t perform full in-lab sleep studies, but they often use home sleep apnea tests. You take a portable monitor home and sleep with it for a night or two. Congress Dental offers these at-home testing devices, which record your breathing and oxygen levels comfortably. The data is analyzed by a sleep physician to confirm if you have apnea.
How effective are oral appliances for sleep apnea? Very effective for many patients. Studies show that properly fitted oral appliances significantly reduce apnea events, snoring volume, and daytime sleepiness. They are especially effective for mild to moderate OSA. Patients also tend to use them regularly because they are easy to wear. For best results, follow-up sleep tests can confirm the improvement.
Do I need a sleep study before getting treatment? Typically, yes. A formal diagnosis of sleep apnea requires some form of sleep testing. Many dentists recommend confirming OSA with a study (in-lab or at-home) before moving forward. This ensures we know how severe your apnea is. At Congress Dental, we often guide patients through at-home tests to obtain an official diagnosis.
Does dental insurance cover sleep apnea devices? Many medical insurances consider oral appliances for sleep apnea as a durable medical device. If you have medical (not dental) insurance for sleep apnea, coverage is likely. Congress Dental staff can help check your benefits. Some plans do require a doctor’s prescription and a sleep study report. We will coordinate any needed paperwork to maximize your coverage.
Can kids have sleep apnea? Yes, children can suffer from sleep apnea, often due to enlarged tonsils or adenoids. While rare, Congress Dental can evaluate mouth and airway issues in kids, but usually pediatric OSA is managed by a pediatrician or ENT. (Our site focuses on adult treatment.)
How long does it take to feel better on a dental sleep appliance? Many patients notice improvement in snoring and sleep quality within a few days of using a well-fitted oral appliance. It may take a week or two to fully adjust, but relief often starts quickly. A follow-up sleep test can objectively show improvement in breathing events.
Why see a dentist for sleep apnea? Sleep apnea has an oral/dental component: the jaw, tongue and throat anatomy play key roles. Dentists with sleep training can assess bite, jaw alignment and dental health together, then provide oral devices that a general doctor cannot. Congress Dental’s prosthodontists have specialized knowledge of the jaw and have received training in sleep medicine, making them uniquely qualified to treat sleep apnea conservatively.
Does Congress Dental Group treat sleep apnea in Boston? Yes. Congress Dental Group, located at 160 Federal St. in downtown Boston, offers comprehensive sleep apnea services. We provide consultations, home sleep testing, and custom oral appliance therapy for patients in Boston and nearby South Station. Dr. Page has been helping Boston patients with snoring and sleep apnea for years, combining advanced dental technology with personalized care. (See Our Sleep Apnea Practice for more.)
What is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is a condition where breathing stops intermittently during sleep, reducing oxygen levels. Most cases are obstructive (throat blockage) and cause loud snoring and fatigue. Treatment by Congress Dental uses custom mouthpieces to keep the airway open.
What causes sleep apnea?
Obstructive sleep apnea is caused by excess soft tissue in the airway collapsing during sleep. Contributing factors include overweight, large neck circumference, and relaxed throat muscles at night. Lifestyle factors (alcohol before bed) can worsen it.
How is sleep apnea treated in Boston?
In Boston, treatment options include CPAP machines, surgery, positional therapy, and dental oral appliances. Dentists like those at Congress Dental offer custom devices that hold the jaw forward during sleep, improving airflow.
How do dental appliances work for apnea?
An oral appliance (like a mandibular advancement device) looks like a mouthguard. It attaches to the upper and lower teeth and advances the lower jaw. This forward position keeps the tongue and soft tissue from blocking the airway.
Can a dentist fit an appliance without a doctor?
Most insurance and best practices require a sleep study diagnosis. Congress Dental often works with your physician to interpret test results. However, dentists can sometimes fit an oral appliance for snoring if apnea has been ruled out.
Is my sleep apnea dental device covered by insurance?
Many medical insurance plans (or supplementary sleep apnea policies) cover custom oral appliances, especially when prescribed by a dentist or doctor for diagnosed OSA. Coverage varies, so our staff will assist with insurance pre-authorization.
How long do I wear the appliance?
Typically you wear the oral appliance every night during sleep. It should be a consistent habit to keep sleep apnea under control. Unlike CPAP, the device is easy to insert and remove, so using it nightly is usually comfortable after a short adjustment.
Are oral appliances safe?
Yes. They are FDA-approved devices with a low risk profile. Initially, you may experience minor jaw soreness, tooth movement, or increased saliva. These effects usually decrease over weeks. Our team will adjust the fit to minimize side effects.
Can sleep apnea be cured?
Sleep apnea is a chronic condition, but it can be effectively managed. Treatments like CPAP or oral appliances control the symptoms by preventing airway collapse. Lifestyle changes (weight loss, quitting smoking) can reduce severity.
Why is Congress Dental Group a good choice for sleep apnea?
Congress Dental brings together general and cosmetic dentistry with sleep medicine in one convenient downtown office. With over 20 years of experience, Dr. Page’s practice offers advanced care including 3D-imaging, sedation options, and a caring team focused on patient comfort. Our location near South Station makes it easy for Boston patients to get expert sleep apnea treatment in a professional, welcoming setting.
Sleep apnea doesn’t just rob you of rest—it silently affects your heart, brain, mood, and daily energy. Whether you’re battling chronic snoring or waking up exhausted every morning, you owe it to yourself to seek treatment. At Congress Dental Group, conveniently located near South Station in downtown Boston, we provide expert, comfortable, and personalized care for sleep apnea with cutting-edge dental sleep appliances. Our goal is simple: to help you breathe better, sleep soundly, and live fully. Schedule your consultation today, and take the first step toward restful, healthier nights.
In summary, Congress Dental Group offers a caring, expert-based approach to sleep apnea therapy. We understand how debilitating sleepless nights can be, and we’re dedicated to helping Boston patients — especially those near South Station and the Financial District — get restful nights and brighter mornings.
