Skip to main content
Alpine Airway Wellness
Request

Adult Sleep & Airway

Better sleep starts with better breathing.

Snoring, restless nights and waking up tired are often connected to how you breathe while you sleep. We evaluate the airway, jaw structure and oral function behind those symptoms — and work with your physician when a medical diagnosis or testing is part of the picture.

Request an AppointmentExplore Treatment Options ↓
A woman stretching in bed as morning sunlight fills the room

Sleep & Breathing

You may be sleeping all night — but are you sleeping well?

Sleep-related breathing sits on a continuum. Quiet, easy nasal breathing is at one end; snoring, effortful breathing and obstructive sleep apnea sit further along it. Where someone falls is determined through evaluation and, when appropriate, medical sleep testing — not from symptoms alone.

Our Approach

We look beyond the diagnosis.

A diagnosis describes what is happening. We are also interested in why — the structure and function underneath it.

About Our Approach →
Airway
Nasal and throat anatomy, and how easily air moves through it while you sleep.
Jaw & Oral Structure
Jaw position, arch width and the space available for the tongue to rest.
Function
Tongue posture, oral function and day-to-day breathing patterns.
Sleep
Your symptoms, your sleep history and any sleep-study information available.

Where appropriate, care is coordinated with sleep physicians, ENTs, myofunctional therapists and other providers already involved in your health.

Screening, diagnosis and treatment work together.

SCREENour practiceDIAGNOSEsleep physicianCOORDINATEtogetherONGOING COORDINATED CARE

Our practice screens for signs of sleep-related breathing concerns and evaluates the dental and airway factors that may contribute to them. Obstructive sleep apnea is a medical diagnosis, made by a physician on the basis of sleep testing.

So the two sides work together: we collaborate with sleep physicians as appropriate for diagnosis, interpretation of testing and ongoing coordinated care. You should never feel caught between two offices.

Learn About Sleep Screening →

Personalized Care

Sleep treatment isn’t one-size-fits-all.

The right option depends on your diagnosis, your anatomy and what you are able to live with night after night.

Oral Appliance Therapy

Custom mandibular advancement devices, fitted and adjusted over time to help maintain airway space during sleep.

Explore Oral Appliances

NightLase®

A non-invasive Fotona laser protocol that gently heats and tones upper-airway soft tissue, used to help reduce snoring and support better sleep.

Explore NightLase

Functional Orthodontics & Expansion

For some adults, arch width, jaw relationship and tongue space are part of the picture; clear aligners or expansion may be considered.

Explore Adult Expansion

Surgical Expansion Options

When significant skeletal expansion is indicated, we explain the potential options and coordinate referrals to the appropriate specialist. Surgical procedures are not performed in our office.

Learn About Expansion Options

Related reading: mouth breathing in adults, myofunctional therapy for adults and EXOMIND for sleep & mental wellness.

You don’t need to know which treatment you need.

That’s what the evaluation is for.

We start with your symptoms, your sleep history, your airway and oral structure, and what you are hoping for. From there we talk through the options that make sense for you — and coordinate with the other providers involved when that is the right step.

Request an Appointment
A man sitting quietly at the edge of his bed at dawn, looking out toward the mountains

CPAP Alternatives

Having trouble with CPAP?

CPAP isn’t the only conversation.

CPAP works well for many people and remains an important therapy. When it is not tolerated, other options may be appropriate depending on your diagnosis and anatomy — including custom oral appliances — and any change is coordinated with your sleep physician rather than made on your own.

Explore CPAP Alternatives →

A clearer path to better sleep.

  1. Understand

    Your symptoms, sleep history, previous testing and the concerns that brought you in.

  2. Evaluate

    Dental, jaw, airway and functional factors, looked at together.

  3. Personalize

    Appropriate options for your situation, with coordination when it is needed.

Request an Appointment

Common Questions

Sleep and airway questions we hear often.

Can a dentist treat sleep apnea?
Dentists with airway training can provide certain treatments for obstructive sleep apnea, most commonly oral appliance therapy. Obstructive sleep apnea itself is a medical diagnosis, so testing and diagnosis come from a physician. We work alongside your sleep physician: they diagnose and interpret testing, and we deliver and manage the dental side of care.
What are alternatives to CPAP?
CPAP is an effective treatment for sleep apnea, but it isn't the right fit for everyone. Depending on your diagnosis and individual anatomy, alternatives may include a custom oral sleep appliance, NightLase® laser therapy, myofunctional therapy, functional orthodontics or expansion, and evaluation of nasal or airway obstruction with an ENT. For some patients, surgical options may also be appropriate. At Alpine Airway Wellness, we look at your airway, jaw structure, oral function, sleep concerns, and previous testing to help determine which options may be worth exploring, while collaborating with your sleep physician and other providers when appropriate.
How does an oral appliance for sleep apnea work?
A custom mandibular advancement device is worn during sleep and holds the lower jaw in a slightly forward position. That change is intended to help maintain space at the back of the throat so the airway is less likely to collapse. Appliances are fitted, titrated gradually and then reassessed, often with follow-up testing arranged by your physician.
Can NightLase help with snoring?
NightLase® is a non-invasive Fotona laser protocol that gently heats and tones the soft tissue of the upper airway and palate. It is used with the goal of reducing snoring and supporting better sleep quality. It is delivered as a series of short sessions, and it is not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment of obstructive sleep apnea. Individual responses vary.
Can a narrow palate affect breathing in adults?
Arch width, jaw relationship and the space available for the tongue can all influence how easily air moves through the nose and throat. These are structural factors that persist into adulthood, which is why we evaluate them alongside your symptoms rather than looking at tooth alignment alone.
Does insurance cover oral appliance therapy?
Oral appliance therapy is often billed to medical rather than dental insurance, and coverage varies by plan, diagnosis and documentation. Our team can review your specific benefits and explain expected costs before treatment begins.

Clinically reviewed by Dr. Brittany Johansen. This page is general education, not a diagnosis or a treatment plan.

We see patients at our Alpine, Utah office, including families from Highland, Cedar Hills, American Fork, Lehi and across Utah County.

Related reading: TMJ & jaw pain, myofunctional therapy and snoring.

Ready to sleep better?

If snoring, restless nights or daytime fatigue have become part of your normal, a consultation at Alpine Airway Wellness in Alpine, Utah is a straightforward place to start. We’ll listen, evaluate what we can, and be clear about what belongs with your physician.

Request an Appointment