Restful Sleep Starts Right Here at Your Nashua Dental Office
If your snoring keeps your partner awake or leaves both of you struggling to get a good night’s sleep, it may be time to explore a solution. Occasional snoring is common, but loud, persistent snoring can sometimes signal an underlying breathing problem that deserves attention.
At the Center for Dental Sleep Health in Nashua, NH, Dr. Tara Levesque-Vogel and Dr. Keith Levesque help patients understand their snoring concerns and explore appropriate treatment options. We know that disrupted sleep can affect more than your nights. It can contribute to daytime fatigue, frustration, and tension between partners who simply want to rest comfortably.
Our approach starts with understanding what’s causing your snoring. For some people, lifestyle changes or treatment for nasal congestion may help. Others may benefit from a custom oral appliance. And when snoring is accompanied by signs of obstructive sleep apnea, appropriate medical evaluation is an important first step.
Ready to discuss your snoring? Call the Center for Dental Sleep Health at (603) 886-4300 to learn about your options.
When Is Snoring More Than a Noise Problem?
Snoring occurs when air movement causes tissues in the upper airway to vibrate during sleep. The sound may be soft and occasional, or it may be loud enough to disrupt your sleep and your partner’s rest.
Several factors can contribute to snoring, including sleep position, nasal congestion, alcohol use, and the structure of the airway. Persistent snoring can also be a sign of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a condition in which the airway repeatedly becomes partially or completely blocked during sleep. It’s important to distinguish between the two. Not everyone who snores has sleep apnea, and the loudness of snoring alone can’t determine whether the condition is present.
Watch for these additional warning signs:
- Pauses in breathing noticed by a partner.
- Gasping, choking, or snorting during sleep.
- Persistent daytime fatigue or excessive sleepiness.
- Morning headaches or difficulty concentrating.
- Frequent nighttime awakenings.
- High blood pressure alongside other possible sleep apnea symptoms.
If you recognize these signs, seek a medical evaluation. If you feel sleepy while driving, avoid driving and seek medical advice promptly.
What Could Be Causing Your Snoring?
Snoring can have several contributing factors. Understanding them helps determine which treatments may be useful.
- Airway Anatomy: The size and position of the tongue, soft palate, tonsils, jaw, and other structures can affect airflow during sleep. When the airway narrows, surrounding tissues may vibrate as air passes through.
- Sleeping on Your Back: For some people, sleeping on their back allows the tongue and soft tissues to move toward the back of the throat, increasing the likelihood of snoring. Changing sleep position may help when snoring is position-dependent, although it isn’t sufficient treatment for everyone with sleep apnea.
- Nasal Congestion: Allergies, nasal inflammation, and structural nasal problems can make breathing through the nose more difficult. Addressing the underlying cause may help some people breathe more comfortably during sleep.
- Alcohol and Certain Medications: Alcohol and some sedating medications can relax muscles and affect breathing during sleep. Avoiding alcohol near bedtime may help reduce snoring in some people. Discuss medication concerns with your healthcare provider rather than changing prescribed medication on your own.
- Weight and Age: Excess tissue around the neck and upper airway can increase the risk of airway obstruction. Snoring and obstructive sleep apnea also become more common with age, partly because muscle tone and other anatomical factors change over time.
Not every cause requires the same treatment. That’s why understanding your symptoms and determining whether sleep apnea may be present matters before choosing an approach.
Snoring Treatment Options
The right solution depends on the cause of your snoring, your health, and whether you have an underlying sleep-related breathing disorder.
Lifestyle Changes and Positional Therapy
Some people find that practical adjustments help reduce snoring:
- Sleeping on your side if snoring is worse when you sleep on your back.
- Limiting alcohol near bedtime.
- Addressing nasal allergies or congestion with appropriate medical guidance.
- Pursuing weight management when recommended for your health.
- Maintaining a consistent sleep schedule.
These changes may help with snoring, but they should not replace prescribed treatment for diagnosed sleep apnea.
Custom Oral Appliance Therapy
A custom oral appliance may help reduce snoring by gently positioning the lower jaw forward during sleep. This can help maintain space in the upper airway and reduce the vibration of soft tissues.
Oral appliances may be considered for primary snoring after sleep apnea has been appropriately ruled out, as well as for eligible patients with obstructive sleep apnea.
Potential benefits include:
- Quiet operation: The appliance has no motor, tubing, or airflow noise.
- Portable design: It fits into a small case, making it convenient for travel.
- A personalized fit: The device is made to fit your teeth and is adjusted for your needs.
- A simple bedtime routine: You wear the appliance during sleep without setting up a machine.
Oral appliances can also cause side effects, including tooth soreness, jaw discomfort, changes in your bite, and excess salivation or dryness. Proper fitting and follow-up help address these concerns.
A comfortable appliance does not automatically mean that sleep apnea is controlled. If you have OSA, treatment effectiveness should be evaluated appropriately, including repeat sleep testing when recommended by your medical provider.
The Sleep Appliances We Offer
At the Center for Dental Sleep Health, we offer the Herbst appliance and the ProSomnus EVO® Guided Sleep and Snore Device.
- Herbst appliance: A Herbst-style appliance uses a connecting mechanism to help maintain a forward position of the lower jaw during sleep. This may help reduce airway obstruction in appropriately selected patients. The specific design and adjustment features depend on the appliance being provided. We can discuss its suitability, fitting, and follow-up requirements during your consultation.
- ProSomnus EVO® Guided Sleep and Snore Device: The ProSomnus EVO® Guided Sleep and Snore Device is a precision oral appliance designed for sleep-related breathing treatment. Its guided-post design helps direct jaw positioning during use. Whether this device is appropriate depends on your diagnosis, dental health, and individual treatment needs. Our team can explain its design and how it may fit into your treatment plan.
Which appliance is right for you? There isn’t one device that works best for everyone. We’ll consider your oral health, jaw comfort, symptoms, and any sleep study results before discussing an appropriate option. If sleep apnea is suspected, medical evaluation and appropriate testing are important before deciding on treatment.
What If You Have Sleep Apnea?
If your snoring is associated with obstructive sleep apnea, your treatment plan needs to address the breathing disorder, not just the noise.
CPAP therapy is a common treatment, but some patients struggle with the mask, pressure, or equipment. For eligible patients, oral appliance therapy may be an alternative. Other approaches may be appropriate depending on the diagnosis and individual circumstances.
Our team can discuss oral appliance therapy and coordinate with your medical provider as needed. We do not recommend choosing a snoring device solely on the basis of how quiet or comfortable it seems.
Learn more about our sleep apnea treatment options or explore alternatives to CPAP.
How We Help You Find the Right Approach
At the Center for Dental Sleep Health, we believe treatment should start with listening to your concerns and understanding what you hope to improve.
Dr. Tara Levesque-Vogel and Dr. Keith Levesque bring a patient-centered approach to dental sleep medicine. They recognize that snoring can affect both the person experiencing it and the person trying to sleep beside them. They also understand that a treatment plan needs to address the underlying problem rather than simply promise quieter nights.
The Center builds on Dr. Stephen Ura’s experience in dental sleep medicine, which continues to contribute to its approach to care. The team emphasizes appropriate evaluation, individualized treatment planning, and follow-up.
During your consultation, we’ll discuss your symptoms, review relevant diagnostic information, and consider whether oral appliance therapy may be suitable. If further medical assessment is needed, we’ll explain the next steps.
What to Expect at Your Consultation
- Tell us what’s happening at night. We’ll discuss how often you snore, whether your partner has noticed breathing pauses, and whether you experience fatigue, headaches, or other symptoms.
- Review your health and sleep history. If you’ve already had a sleep study or received a diagnosis, bring those results if available. We’ll review the information relevant to considering oral appliance therapy.
- Determine whether further evaluation is needed. A dental consultation alone cannot confirm or rule out sleep apnea. If your symptoms suggest a possible breathing disorder, appropriate medical evaluation and sleep testing are important.
- Discuss treatment options. If an oral appliance is suitable, we’ll explain the available devices, fitting process, potential side effects, and expected follow-up.
- Plan for ongoing care. We want you to understand how your treatment will be monitored. If you have sleep apnea, your medical provider may recommend repeat sleep testing to evaluate the effectiveness of your appliance.
Will Insurance Cover Snoring Treatment?
Coverage depends on your diagnosis, treatment, insurance plan, and eligibility requirements.
Medical insurance and Medicare may cover oral appliance therapy for eligible patients with a documented diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea, subject to the applicable coverage criteria. Treatment for primary snoring without a sleep apnea diagnosis may not qualify for the same benefits.
The Center for Dental Sleep Health works with Medicare DME coverage and many medical insurance plans. Our team can help you understand what information may be needed to verify your benefits and clarify expected out-of-pocket expenses before treatment begins.
Call (603) 886-4300 to discuss coverage, financing options, and your next steps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an oral appliance stop snoring if I don't have sleep apnea?
A custom oral appliance may help reduce primary snoring in appropriately selected patients. However, sleep apnea should be considered when snoring is persistent or accompanied by breathing pauses, gasping, or daytime sleepiness. Appropriate evaluation helps determine which treatment is suitable.
Is a store-bought snoring mouthguard the same as a custom oral appliance?
Over-the-counter snoring mouthguards use a generic, one-size-fits-most design that can cause jaw pain, bite changes, and tooth discomfort—leading most patients to abandon them quickly. Our professional oral appliances are custom-fabricated from dental-grade materials based on precise impressions of your teeth and jaw. They’re adjustable, comfortable, and built to last. More importantly, they’re designed to treat the specific anatomical cause of your snoring—not just muffle the noise.
Does loud snoring always mean I have sleep apnea?
No. Snoring has several possible causes, and many people who snore do not have sleep apnea. However, persistent loud snoring, witnessed pauses in breathing, and excessive daytime sleepiness are reasons to seek evaluation.
Can my partner help determine whether I need treatment?
Your partner may notice snoring, gasping, or breathing pauses that you are unaware of. That information can be helpful during an evaluation, but symptoms alone cannot confirm a diagnosis. A healthcare professional can determine whether sleep testing is appropriate.
How do I get started with snoring treatment in Nashua?
Call the Center for Dental Sleep Health at (603) 886-4300 to discuss a consultation. If you have existing sleep study results, a sleep apnea diagnosis, or a referral from your physician, bring that information if available.
Take the Next Step Toward Quieter Nights
Persistent snoring can affect your sleep, your partner’s rest, and your daily quality of life. You don’t have to guess at the cause or choose a device without understanding your options.
At the Center for Dental Sleep Health in Nashua, NH, Dr. Tara Levesque-Vogel and Dr. Keith Levesque help patients explore appropriate approaches to snoring and oral appliance therapy. We’ll listen to your concerns, explain the role of evaluation, and help you understand whether a custom appliance may be right for you.
Call (603) 886-4300 to discuss your snoring concerns and schedule a consultation with our Nashua sleep apnea dentists. We welcome patients from Nashua, Hudson, Merrimack, Milford, and surrounding Southern New Hampshire communities.