Snoring Treatment

Snoring and sleep apnea treatment using custom-made mandibular advancement devices is the dental solution that repositions the lower jaw forward during sleep to keep the upper airway open. This eliminates or significantly reduces snoring and apnea episodes without the need for surgery or CPAP machines.

Snoring affects 40% of adults, and undiagnosed sleep apnea is a public health concern: it causes daytime sleepiness, cognitive impairment, high blood pressure, and increases the risk of traffic accidents. Many patients are unaware that the dentist can be their first line of defense in solving this problem.

At Asensio Dental Clinic, Dr. Lucía Asensio Romero (Registration No. 46002287) designs and adjusts custom mandibular advancement devices, providing follow-up care until the optimal position for each patient is achieved. The first visit is completely free of charge.

What is sleep apnea?

Obstructive sleep apnea is a disorder in which the soft tissues of the throat —soft palate, uvula, tonsils, and the base of the tongue— repeatedly collapse during sleep, partially or totally blocking the airway. Each apnea episode triggers a micro-arousal that the patient rarely remembers, but which fragments sleep and prevents reaching deep, restorative rest stages. Thirty or more episodes per hour is considered severe apnea.

The consequences of untreated apnea accumulate over time: daytime sleepiness that impairs work performance and increases accident risk; difficulty with concentration and memory; irritability and mood swings; and in the long term, hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias, and a higher risk of stroke. Untreated severe sleep apnea shortens life expectancy.

The diagnosis of sleep apnea is performed by a medical specialist —pulmonologist or neurologist— through polysomnography. The dentist intervenes in the treatment when the apnea is mild to moderate, or when the patient does not tolerate CPAP therapy.

Mandibular Advancement Device: How it works

A mandibular advancement device (MAD) —also known as an anti-snoring splint or mandibular advancement appliance— is a custom-made orthosis placed between the upper and lower teeth during sleep. Its mechanism of action is to move the lower jaw forward by 5 to 10 mm from its resting position. This pulls the base of the tongue and pharyngeal soft tissues forward, widening the airway diameter and reducing its tendency to collapse.

Unlike generic over-the-counter mandibular devices found in pharmacies, a custom-made device fabricated in a dental laboratory fits the patient’s occlusion perfectly. It is adjustable by millimeters to find the optimal advancement position and does not produce the side effects —tooth pain, bite changes, joint discomfort— associated with non-fitted devices. The titration of the advancement is performed progressively and controlled through several follow-up visits.

Comparison	CPAP	Mandibular Device (MAD)
Effectiveness	Very high in severe apnea	High in mild-moderate apnea
Comfort	Low — mask and compressor	High — small and silent
Adherence	40-60% long-term	70-80% long-term
Indication	Severe apnea or preferred CPAP	Snoring, mild-moderate apnea, CPAP intolerance

This specialty is part of our other dental treatments in Valencia area. If you also require sedation for your dental treatments, please visit our page on conscious sedation in Valencia.

Frequently Asked Questions about Snoring Treatment

Does the mandibular device completely eliminate snoring?

In most cases of primary snoring, yes. In sleep apnea cases, the goal is to reduce apnea episodes below the clinically significant threshold —fewer than 5 per hour— and improve sleep quality. The result depends on each patient’s anatomy and the degree of mandibular advancement they can tolerate.

Is the mandibular device painful?

During the first few weeks, muscle discomfort in the jaw and teeth may appear, especially in the morning, which usually disappears after a few hours. This discomfort is managed by adjusting the degree of advancement progressively. Once the device is correctly titrated, most patients use it without discomfort.

Do I need a doctor’s diagnosis before visiting the dentist?

For simple snoring without apnea, it is not essential. For sleep apnea, a medical diagnosis via polysomnography is recommended to determine the severity of the condition and choose the most appropriate treatment. In mild to moderate cases, a mandibular device is the first line of treatment and can be prescribed directly by a specialized dentist.