New Hanover County · Since 1987
Sleep Apnea Treatment in Kure Beach, NC
For diagnosed mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea, a custom oral appliance holds the lower jaw forward and keeps the airway open. Many patients who cannot tolerate CPAP can tolerate this.
- Three doctors, one location
- Sedation available
- Most major plans accepted
- Written estimates before treatment
The basics of sleep apnea appliances
The appliance looks like two connected night guards. It advances the mandible a few millimeters, which keeps the tongue and soft tissue from collapsing back during sleep.
Full detail on sleep apnea appliances ›
Why Kure Beach patients come to us for this
Kure Beach has the oldest resident profile in New Hanover County. A third of the town is 65 or older, and barely one in ten residents is under 18.
Joint and muscle pain in an older bite is often the end result of decades of wear rather than a new problem, and it responds to the same conservative treatment.
Fort Fisher and the aquarium bring the visitors; the year-round community is small, settled and largely retired.
Thirty-two minutes each way is the reason we plan Kure Beach treatment in as few appointments as the clinical work allows.
The dental needs here skew heavily toward restorative and prosthetic work rather than preventive care for children.
We see patients from across Kure Beach and the surrounding area, including the Kure Beach Pier, Fort Fisher, the NC Aquarium and the 28449 ZIP code.
New Hanover County is the built-out core of the region, growing around one percent a year, with roughly 21 percent of residents over 65 and the highest concentration of employer dental coverage in southeastern North Carolina.
We will tell you honestly whether this is worth doing now or whether it can be watched for a year, and we will say which of your existing work is likely to fail next.
We plan restorative treatment in as few visits as the work allows, because thirty-two minutes each way adds up fast.
You may be a candidate if
- A diagnosis of mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea
- CPAP prescribed but not tolerated
- Loud snoring with witnessed pauses in breathing
- Daytime sleepiness despite adequate hours
- Enough healthy teeth to retain the appliance
Your treatment, start to finish
- Referral and sleep studyDiagnosis first. We coordinate with your physician.
- RecordsImpressions and a bite registration at the starting jaw position.
- DeliveryThe appliance is fitted and we show you how it seats.
- TitrationWe advance it gradually over several weeks to the effective position.
- Follow-up studyYour physician confirms it is working.
Afterwards
Morning jaw stiffness for the first weeks is common and settles. We check your bite periodically because long-term appliance wear can shift it slightly, and catching that early is easy.
If getting to follow-up visits is difficult, tell us. We can often combine checks into fewer, longer appointments.
What it costs
Oral appliances for diagnosed sleep apnea are usually a medical benefit rather than a dental one. Coverage varies and it is worth pursuing. We will help you assemble what your medical carrier asks for.
If you are on Medicare, note that it does not cover routine dental treatment. Many supplement plans include a limited dental benefit with an annual cap, and we will check yours before quoting anything.
In their own words
Hear from Dr. Josh Winneberger
Dr. Winneberger on getting you numb without you noticing, and helping nervous patients get comfortable in the chair.
Questions we get asked
Is it comfortable to sleep in?
Most people adapt within a week or two. It is bulkier than a night guard and far less intrusive than a mask.
Do I need a sleep study first?
Yes. We do not treat undiagnosed apnea, and a study is what tells us whether an appliance is appropriate.
How far is your office from Kure Beach?
About 18 miles, or roughly 32 minutes via US-421 North the length of Pleasure Island. We are at 1301 Physicians Dr in Wilmington, with parking at the door.
Do you see patients from Kure Beach?
Regularly. Kure Beach is part of our core service area in New Hanover County, and we plan restorative treatment in as few visits as the work allows, because thirty-two minutes each way adds up fast.
What are your hours?
Monday through Thursday, 8:00am to 5:00pm, and Friday, 8:00am to 12:00pm. Outside those hours, leave a message or use the appointment request form and we will come back to you with the first available time.
Sleep Apnea Treatment · Kure Beach, NC
Honest dentistry, since 1987.
We will tell you what needs doing now, what can wait, and what we would leave alone.
- Over 50,000 patients treated since 1987
- Comprehensive new patient exam including oral cancer screening
- Three doctors and a long-tenured team
- Most major dental plans accepted
Been told you need a lot of work somewhere else? Second opinions are welcome and we give them straight.
Request an appointment
We reply the next business day.
Please do not include Protected Health Information. For anything urgent, call (910) 762-0958.
