Sleep Better, Breathe Easy, and Live Healthy with Sleep Apnea Treatment
We all need a restful night’s sleep. While patients with sleep apnea rarely enjoy their nights, the effects extend to the following days. Sleep apnea is a severe condition in which breathing repeatedly stops during sleep due to a partial or total airway blockage. These frequent pauses—which can last from a few seconds to minutes—disrupt the natural sleep cycle and deprive the body of much-needed oxygen.
Sonoma Smiles is an advanced state-of-the-art office dedicated to sleep apnea treatment. Dr. Wayne Sutton is a recognized expert in sleep medicine and can work with you to relieve sleep apnea in Rohnert Park, California. Our doctor is also part of a collaborative team comprising ENT physicians, sleep centers, and sleep physicians to manage your sleep disorders comprehensively.

What are the symptoms of sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea causes stoppages in breathing when sleeping. The most prevalent kind, known as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), is brought on by the relaxation of the throat muscles, which allows the tongue and other soft tissues to collapse and obstruct the airway. When the airway is partially or entirely obstructed, the body frequently wakes up—albeit subconsciously—to restore normal breathing. An interrupted sleep pattern denies the body’s ability to refresh itself.
OSA causes numerous symptoms, including:
- Chronic, loud snoring
- Morning headaches
- Waking up with a dry throat
- Daytime fatigue
- Poor concentration
- Irritability and mood changes
- Reduced sex drive
- Daytime sleepiness despite many hours of sleep
- Poor memory
Sleep apnea can quickly turn into a life-threatening condition. Besides the symptoms above, the continuous insufficient body rest and oxygen supply strain your major organs, putting you at risk of diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, depression, and other systematic diseases.
How is sleep apnea treated?
Many medical doctors prescribe a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine as the standard treatment for OSA. This device delivers a steady stream of air through a mask placed over your nose or mouth while you sleep. The continuous airflow keeps your airway open, preventing the collapses that cause breathing interruptions during sleep. While the CPAP machine is highly effective in treating OSA, many patients find it uncomfortable or cumbersome, often halting treatment halfway.
Dr. Sutton offers an alternative, effective solution for those who cannot tolerate OSA. Oral appliance therapy uses a custom-fitted dental device to keep your airway open as you breathe. A sleep apnea device works by suppressing the tongue to avoid collapse. Some devices also reposition the lower jaw to create enough space in the airway for healthy breathing.
Many OSA cases happen from underdeveloped jaws. This structural deficiency often results in narrowed airways that don’t support optimal breathing. Epigenetic science addresses this underlying issue by focusing on the natural development of the jaw structure. Epigenetics uses a specialized oral device that applies gentle, continuous pressure to the teeth and jaws, stimulating natural growth and expansion over time.
Do you need sleep apnea treatment?
Treatment for sleep apnea doesn’t have to be invasive. Dr. Sutton uses conservative yet effective treatments to manage sleep apnea and other sleep disorders. Reclaim your healthy sleep and life with sleep apnea treatments by dialing (707) 868-0666.
Conquer Sleep Apnea with the TAP Appliance: A Dental Solution

Do you snore excessively? Do you suffer from daytime fatigue? Do you awake during the night with shortness of breath? You may suffer from the life-threatening sleep disorder known as sleep apnea. About 1 in every 15 Americans suffer from sleep apnea and it is a problem that many don’t even realize they might have. But what does this have to do with dentistry? Because sleep apnea is caused by an airway obstruction, the disorder can be treated through the mouth. The Thorton adjustable positioner, or Tap appliance is one of the more popular ways to treat sleep apnea. When the jawbone yes lax, the tongue and soft tissue obstruct the airway. The tap appliance advances the jaw bone, allowing the air to flow freely and making sleep more restful throughout the night. If you think you might suffer from sleep apnea, talk to your dentist today about possible treatment options.