Dental Sleep Medicine

Restful sleep is the foundation of good health, yet for millions of adults, breathing interruptions at night quietly undermine it. Dental sleep medicine is a focused field that uses custom oral appliances to treat snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a comfortable, well-supported alternative to CPAP for many patients. At Kary Dental, Dr. Andrew L. Kary, DDS provides careful evaluation and appliance therapy designed to help patients breathe more easily and sleep more soundly.

What Is Dental Sleep Medicine?

Dental sleep medicine is the use of dental expertise to manage sleep-related breathing disorders. During sleep, the soft tissues at the back of the throat can relax and narrow the airway, producing the vibration we hear as snoring and, in more serious cases, the repeated breathing pauses that define obstructive sleep apnea. A custom oral appliance gently repositions the lower jaw and tongue to keep that airway open, reducing both the noise and the interruptions.

Unlike an over-the-counter mouthpiece, a professionally fitted appliance is made from precise measurements of your mouth and adjusted over time for comfort and effectiveness. It is small, quiet, and portable, an option many patients find far easier to live with than a mask and machine.

Dr. Kary's Qualification in Dental Sleep Medicine

Dr. Kary is a Qualified Dentist of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine (AADSM), the professional organization dedicated to treating sleep-disordered breathing with oral appliance therapy. His engineering background and years of hands-on work with digital design and precision fabrication translate directly into appliances that fit well and perform reliably. Just as importantly, he approaches every case honestly, recommending an appliance only when it is genuinely the right fit for your health and airway.

A Trusted Alternative to CPAP

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is highly effective and remains the standard for severe sleep apnea. But many people struggle to tolerate the mask, the noise, or the sensation of pressurized air, and a device that goes unused cannot help. For patients with primary snoring or mild-to-moderate obstructive sleep apnea, and for those who simply cannot adjust to CPAP, oral appliance therapy is a widely recognized, evidence-based option that patients are far more likely to use every night.

Who Benefits from Oral Appliance Therapy?

You may be a good candidate if you snore loudly and consistently, if a bed partner has noticed pauses or gasping in your breathing, or if you wake unrefreshed despite a full night in bed. Daytime clues matter too: persistent fatigue, difficulty concentrating, morning headaches, and irritability can all point to disrupted sleep. Patients who have been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea but cannot tolerate CPAP are especially well suited to an appliance. An evaluation is the best way to know whether this therapy fits your situation.

How the Process Works

Care begins with a thorough consultation. Dr. Kary reviews your medical and sleep history, discusses your symptoms, and examines your teeth, bite, and airway. Because a proper diagnosis is essential, he coordinates with your physician or a sleep medicine specialist and any sleep study you have completed; if you have not been tested, he can help direct you toward appropriate testing before treatment begins.

When an oral appliance is appropriate, we capture precise digital or physical impressions of your mouth and fabricate a device tailored to your anatomy. After delivery, you return for adjustments so the jaw position is fine-tuned for the best balance of airway improvement and comfort. Follow-up care, sometimes including repeat sleep testing, confirms the appliance is working, and regular dental checkups keep your bite and jaw healthy over the long term.

Take the First Step Toward Better Sleep

If you or a loved one snores, struggles with sleep apnea, or has given up on CPAP, help is available close to home. Contact Kary Dental in Bethesda at (301) 301-3148 or info@karydental.com to schedule a dental sleep medicine consultation. Dr. Kary will give you an honest assessment of your options and help you find a path to quieter, more restorative sleep.