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Airway dentistry in Brookline MA treating sleep disordered breathing at Smile Brookline

Airway Dentistry in Brookline, MA

Treating the breathing problems behind poor sleep and daytime fatigue.

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The Basics

Understanding Airway Dentistry in Brookline

Why a dentist treats sleep

Airway dentistry in Brookline, MA treats the structural reasons people do not breathe well during sleep. The upper airway runs through the middle of the face, and its dimensions are set largely by how the jaws developed. A narrow upper arch, a low tongue posture and a recessed lower jaw all reduce the space available, and during sleep, when muscle tone falls, that space narrows further.

This is the defining work of Smile Brookline. Dr. Sara Stock, DDS is a certified Vivos provider for adults and children, and the practice is built around one clinical idea: breathing, sleep and dental development are a single system. Restricted tongue mobility leads to mouth breathing, mouth breathing affects jaw growth, underdeveloped jaws narrow the airway, and a narrow airway disrupts sleep.

The same reasoning connects nighttime grinding and TMJ pain to airway function rather than treating them as stress habits. Federal treatment guidance listing oral appliances among recommended therapies is published by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

Airway and sleep assessment for adults and children at Smile Brookline in Brookline MA

What We Offer

Our Airway and Sleep Treatments in Brookline

Adults and children, treated differently

Adults and children need different approaches, because one has finished growing and the other has not. Both pathways start with a $195 sleep and airway exam.

  • Sleep Apnea Treatment

    Oral appliance therapy for adults, a comfortable alternative to CPAP.

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  • Mandibular Advancement Devices

    Titratable appliances that hold the lower jaw forward during sleep.

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  • Pediatric Airway

    Vivos therapy guiding jaw development in children aged 3 to 12.

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  • Vivos Oral Appliance Therapy

    Arch development for suitable adults and children, with Vivos Guides.

  • VivoScore Home Sleep Study

    At-home overnight testing for adults using a single-sensor ring recorder.

  • Snore Guards and Positional Therapy

    Adjuncts for position-dependent snoring and mild airway narrowing.

How to Choose

Which Airway Treatment Fits Your Situation?

Age and severity decide

PatientApproachTimelineNotes
Adult, mild to moderate apneaOral appliance therapy2-3 visitsRequires a sleep study first
Adult, CPAP intolerantMandibular advancement device2-3 visitsTitrated to symptom resolution
Adult, narrow archVivos arch development12-24 monthsAims at lasting structural change
Child aged 3 to 12Vivos guided development12-24 monthsWorks with growth still occurring

Sleep apnea is a medical diagnosis, so we require a sleep study before treating adults and coordinate with your physician throughout. Where grinding accompanies disturbed breathing, a custom night guard protects the teeth while the airway work proceeds.

The Smile Brookline Difference

Why Choose Smile Brookline for Airway Dentistry in Brookline, MA

The practice this is built around

Airway is not an added service here. Dr. Sara Stock, DDS reoriented a thirty-year dental practice around it, and families travel from across the Boston metro specifically for this work, particularly for children whose sleep has been dismissed as a phase.

  • Certified Vivos Provider

    Dr. Stock is trained in Vivos therapy for both adults and children aged 3 to 12.

  • Both Appliance Routes

    Vivos arch development and mandibular advancement devices offered side by side.

  • Parent Education Meetings

    Group sessions explaining airway development to families considering treatment.

  • Referral Network

    Myofunctional therapy through MyoSync telehealth and tongue-tie release by referral.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Airway Dentistry

What does the airway exam cost?
The sleep and airway exam is $195 for adults and children. It is a full clinical evaluation of arch width, tongue posture, nasal breathing, tonsils and bite rather than a discussion of options, which is why it carries a fee where our cosmetic consultations do not.
Do I need a sleep study first?
For adults, yes. Sleep apnea is a medical diagnosis and treating it without one is guesswork. We can arrange VivoScore home sleep testing for adults, an overnight ring recorder used at home. Child sleep studies are not offered at this practice.
Is an oral appliance as good as CPAP?
CPAP remains the reference standard, particularly for severe apnea. Randomised trials comparing mandibular advancement with CPAP have found comparable effects on some health outcomes, partly because patients wear appliances more consistently. Severity and tolerance determine which is appropriate for you.
At what age should a child be assessed?
As early as habitual snoring, mouth breathing or restless sleep is noticed. Vivos therapy here treats children aged 3 to 12, because it works with jaw growth that is still happening. Earlier assessment gives more options than waiting to see whether they grow out of it.
Can airway treatment help my grinding?
Often. Sleep bruxism is frequently associated with sleep-disordered breathing, and jaw movement may act as an airway-reopening reflex. Where that is the mechanism, treating the airway addresses the cause while a night guard protects the teeth in the meantime.
Do you work with my physician?
Yes, and we insist on it for apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea has recognised cardiovascular consequences and is a medical condition. We share findings with your physician or sleep specialist and coordinate rather than treating in isolation.

Ready to Start

Book Your Sleep and Airway Exam in Brookline

$195 comprehensive exam for adults and children

Book the $195 sleep and airway exam with Dr. Sara Stock, DDS, a certified Vivos provider. We assess arch width, tongue posture, nasal breathing and bite, review any existing sleep study and explain honestly what is driving the problem. Call (617) 731-3364. Patients come from Boston, Coolidge Corner, Brookline Village, Chestnut Hill, Newton, Allston, Brighton and Cambridge.

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