Sleep Apnea Treatment

What Is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that causes irregular breathing during sleep. Most often, this happens because of an obstructed airway. Obstructions can be caused by the position of the jaw, flattened tissues in the throat while sleeping, and blockage by the tongue. This is called obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA.
With OSA, your breathing will stop and start many times throughout the night. You may find that you wake up gasping for breath. While usually your brain will ensure your breathing restarts before you pass out, it’s still very dangerous and impacts your mind and body in multiple ways.
Sleep apnea can affect your quality of life and can contribute to medical conditions, such as high blood pressure and heart disease.
Some of the more common symptoms of sleep apnea are:
- Severe Snoring
- Headaches When You Wake
- Dry or Sore Throat
- Irritability
- Constant Fatigue
- Difficulty Sleeping
Our dentist and team collaborate with licensed physicians and recommend that you talk to your medical doctor for a proper diagnosis before you receive treatment at our office.
If you suffer from sleep apnea, we provide oral appliances to help open your airway while you sleep and lessen symptoms that can negatively affect your life. Your custom oral appliance can be fitted comfortably over your teeth while you sleep to help you have a good night’s rest.
We invite you to contact our dental office to learn more about sleep apnea treatments and see how we can help you sleep well, breathe easily, and have a better quality of life.
The Dental Connection: How We Can Help
Sleep apnea is often diagnosed by a medical doctor, but dentists play a critical role in treatment, especially when OSA is mild to moderate. In fact, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine endorses oral appliance therapy as a first-line treatment in many cases.
Dr. Stefano works closely with local physicians and sleep specialists to ensure your diagnosis and care plan are comprehensive. Once diagnosed, our team can craft a custom oral appliance that gently repositions your jaw or tongue during sleep, helping keep your airway open to reduce apnea episodes.

How Is Sleep Apnea Treated?
Our caring dentist and team understand that many patients (and their partners) find snoring to be a common nighttime annoyance. Snoring is typically caused by obstructions in the airway, such as collapsing tissues in the throat, large tonsils, or the tongue rolling back in the throat. As airway muscles relax during sleep, these tissues can narrow the upper airway and result in snoring.
CPAP vs. Oral Appliance Therapy: What’s the Difference?
If you’ve been diagnosed with sleep apnea, you’ve probably heard of the CPAP machine. CPAP stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, and it has been the traditional standard for treating moderate to severe sleep apnea. However, not everyone tolerates it well.
At DeStefano Dentistry, we specialize in oral appliance therapy that provides a more user-friendly alternative to CPAP. For patients who have struggled with bulky machines, an oral appliance can be a life-changing solution.
You can also combine oral appliance therapy and CPAP therapy depending on how severe your sleep apnea is.

Partner With a Sleep-Focused Dentist in Pittsford
Not every dentist is trained in dental sleep medicine. Dr. DeStefano has a strong interest in helping patients find relief from sleep-related breathing issues through modern, minimally invasive techniques. From early screening and at-home testing to advanced appliances and laser therapy, we offer the support you need!
Sleep apnea doesn’t have to rule your life. With expert care from DeStefano Dentistry, you can breathe easier, sleep better, and live well again.
Pediatric Sleep Apnea: What Parents Should Know
Although most people associate sleep apnea with adults, children can suffer from it too, and the signs aren’t always obvious.
In kids, sleep apnea is often caused by enlarged tonsils or adenoids, jaw development issues, or chronic allergies. Left untreated, it can lead to:
- Behavioral issues that mimic ADHD
- Poor school performance
- Delayed growth and development
- Bedwetting
- Morning headaches
- Learning difficulties
If your child snores, breathes through their mouth at night, or seems overly tired during the day, they may benefit from a pediatric sleep evaluation. Dr. DeStefano can assess their airway and recommend a course of treatment that supports both their sleep and long-term development.

Commonly Asked Questions About Sleep Apnea
Rest Better with Sleep Apnea Treatment!
A good night’s rest is key to living a healthy life. If you aren’t getting enough deep sleep throughout the night, you will always feel tired. Exhaustion impacts your ability to function in work and school, at home, and much more.
But, you don’t have to live with restless nights and chronic fatigue. When sleep apnea is the source of your problem, Dr. DeStefano can assist you with effective, comfortable sleep apnea treatment in Pittsford.
If you snore frequently, we encourage you to contact our office today to learn more about snoring treatment and schedule your next visit with our dentist.