Because how you breathe affects how you sleep—and how you live
Quality sleep starts with healthy breathing. Airway-focused dentistry in Lincoln, Nebraska, looks beyond teeth to evaluate how your jaw, tongue, and airway function together—especially during sleep. When breathing is compromised, it can affect your energy, focus, mood, and long-term health.
Drs. Tom Tetrick, Rich Nolte and Kevin Vakilzadian help identify and manage sleep and breathing disorders, including Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), using dental solutions and supportive therapies designed to improve airflow and promote restful sleep.
Signs you may have a sleep or breathing disorder
Many patients are unaware that their symptoms are related to airway obstruction. Common signs of OSA and airway issues include:
- Loud or chronic snoring
- Pauses in breathing during sleep
- Waking up gasping or choking
- Daytime fatigue or excessive sleepiness
- Morning headaches
- Difficulty concentrating or memory issues
- Jaw clenching, grinding, or worn teeth
- Dry mouth or sore throat upon waking
If these symptoms sound familiar, airway evaluation may be an important next step.
Oral Appliance Therapy (OMAD)
For patients diagnosed with mild to moderate sleep apnea—or those who cannot tolerate CPAP—Oral Mandibular Advancement Devices (OMADs) can be an effective, comfortable alternative. These custom-made appliances gently reposition the lower jaw forward to keep the airway open during sleep.
Benefits of OMAD therapy:
- Comfortable, custom-fit appliance
- Quiet and noninvasive
- Portable and travel-friendly
- Helps reduce snoring and airway collapse
- Improves sleep quality for many patients
Each appliance is designed specifically for your bite and airway needs to ensure effectiveness and comfort.
Myotherapy: Supporting long-term success
We also offer myofunctional therapy (myotherapy) as a supportive treatment for airway and sleep health. These guided exercises focus on strengthening and retraining the muscles of the tongue, lips, and airway to promote proper breathing patterns—both day and night.
Benefits of myotherapy:
- Encourages nasal breathing
- Improves tongue posture and muscle tone
- Supports oral appliance therapy outcomes
- May reduce airway collapse during sleep
- Helps create lasting, functional improvements
Our airway-focused approach
We believe better sleep starts with a comprehensive, team-based approach. From identifying airway concerns to coordinating care with sleep physicians when needed, we focus on personalized solutions that fit your lifestyle and health goals.
If you’re struggling with sleep, snoring, or daytime fatigue, airway dentistry in Lincoln, NE, may be the missing piece. Call Pine Ridge Dental at 402-423-1100 to learn more and schedule your personal consultation with our dentists. We’re here to help you breathe better, sleep deeper, and wake up feeling more like yourself again.