A Sleep Apnea Dentist for More Restful Nights
Snoring, waking tired or struggling with CPAP? As a sleep apnea dentist in Seattle, Dr. Rubecca Shahid screens your airway at SMILES ON 35th and makes custom oral appliances for mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea, working with your sleep physician so you can sleep better.
When a full night's sleep doesn't feel restful
Snoring and daytime tiredness can point to the airway, and that's something we can check.
Maybe your partner has moved to the spare room because of your snoring. Maybe your sleep tracker keeps flagging restless nights, or you've tried CPAP and couldn't get used to it.
Obstructive sleep apnea happens when the airway narrows or closes during sleep, interrupting breathing. It's linked to high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke, so it's worth taking seriously. A sleep physician diagnoses sleep apnea. Our part is to screen your airway, refer you for a sleep study when it's needed, and provide a custom oral appliance that's comfortable, quiet and easy to travel with.
See what your first visit includes
Better sleep, better days
Treating sleep apnea can change how you feel at night and through the day. Many people notice the difference in their energy, their mood and their partner's sleep.
A custom appliance gently holds your lower jaw forward to keep your airway open, which can reduce snoring and help you sleep more soundly. Your partner may notice the difference first.
Fewer breathing interruptions mean less broken sleep, so you can wake feeling rested instead of reaching for more coffee. Focus, mood and patience often improve too.
For people with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea, or who can't tolerate CPAP, an oral appliance is small, quiet and easy to travel with. Many people find it easier to use every night.
Because sleep apnea is linked to heart disease and stroke, treating it is part of looking after your health for decades. Your physician tracks the results with you.
An oral appliance is small, silent and needs no electricity, so it slips into a travel bag and doesn't disturb your partner.
How we help you sleep better
Oral appliance therapy treats sleep apnea with a custom mouthpiece worn at night. Here's how we provide it, from screening to follow-up.
Airway screening
Every comprehensive exam includes an airway screening, so signs of sleep-disordered breathing are noticed early.
A 3D view of your airway
In-office CBCT imaging shows your airway and jaw joints in 3D, information a standard X-ray can't give.
Custom appliances
Your appliance is made from a 3D scan of your teeth and adjusted to hold your jaw in just the right position for comfortable, open breathing.
Working with sleep physicians
Your sleep physician diagnoses and confirms results; we make, fit and fine-tune the appliance, and keep them updated.
Who oral appliance therapy helps
It helps people who snore, wake tired or wake with headaches, people diagnosed with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea, and people who've tried CPAP and couldn't keep using it.
For the right patient, an oral appliance is a comfortable, effective way to sleep better, and your sleep physician stays involved to confirm it's the right treatment for you.
Book your sleep consultation
From screening to restful sleep
Airway screening
We ask about your sleep and energy, examine your mouth and airway, and take 3D images when needed.
Sleep study
A sleep physician orders a sleep study, often at home, and confirms whether you have sleep apnea and how severe it is.
Your custom appliance
We take a 3D scan of your teeth, make your appliance and adjust it until it's comfortable and effective.
Follow-up
We check fit and comfort at follow-up visits, and your physician confirms how well the appliance is working, and we adjust it as needed.
A gentle dentist who champions your lifelong health
Dr. Rubecca Shahid owns SMILES ON 35th in Wedgwood and leads your care herself, gently and with time to listen. Her own health struggles, then her mother's diagnosis, left her asking what the point of all our hard work is without the health to enjoy it. Longevity dentistry is her answer: care that protects your mouth and your health, so you can enjoy the life you're building.
Her care is conservative: she saves natural tooth wherever she can, chooses the least invasive option that will last, and recommends only treatment that truly helps you. When a tooth needs more, she shows you why. She is empathetic and thorough, with clear choices and no pressure.
She champions your long-term health and has trained to deliver on it. A Kois Center graduate, one of about 1,200 dentists worldwide, she completes nearly eight times the continuing education Washington requires every year. Her training spans prevention, function and sleep, restoration and smile design, so one dentist who knows you can plan each stage, close to home.
- Advanced training in diagnosis, treatment planning and bite stabilization from the Kois Center
- Biomimetic Dentistry Practitioner with mastership from the Alleman Center
- Member of American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine
- Member of American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
I came to longevity dentistry through my own health journey, wanting to understand why problems start and how to prevent them. What I needed then is what I want for you now: more good years, a smile you feel good about, and a dentist who listens.
The training behind our Sleep Solutions
Sleep apnea care works best when dentist and physician work together. These are the specifics behind ours.
Trained in dental sleep medicine
Dr. Shahid is a member of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine and is trained to fit and fine-tune oral appliances.
3D airway imaging in our office
CBCT imaging shows your airway in 3D at your visit, with no separate imaging appointment.
Partnership with physicians
We work alongside your sleep physician, or one from our network, from diagnosis to follow-up.
Comfortable, custom appliances
Each appliance is made from a 3D scan and adjusted until it feels right.
Hear it from our patients
Before you book, it helps to hear from people who have been in the chair. Read what patients say about their visits and treatment at SMILES ON 35th.
Read more reviewson Google (opens in a new tab)I've been going here for years and have never found a more gentle and thorough dental practitioner. Such a friendly, high-quality neighborhood dentist! No matter what I come in for, whether it's a cleaning, a crown or orthodontics, I always know the care will be exceptional.
Sleep apnea questions
Yes. A dentist trained in dental sleep medicine can treat mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea with a custom oral appliance, once a sleep physician has made the diagnosis.
It can be. Loud snoring, gasping or pauses in breathing, and waking tired are common signs. Not everyone who snores has sleep apnea, so a sleep study is the way to know for sure.
For many people with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea, yes, and for people who can't tolerate CPAP. CPAP is usually the first choice for severe sleep apnea, and your sleep physician will help decide what's right for you.
Yes. Sleep apnea must be diagnosed by a sleep physician, usually with a sleep study. If you haven't had one, we can screen your airway and refer you to a physician in our network.
An oral appliance gently holds your lower jaw slightly forward while you sleep, which helps keep your airway open and reduces snoring and breathing pauses.
Reviewed by Dr. Rubecca Shahid Updated
More care for your bite, jaw and sleep
Grinding at night, a sore jaw, or curious how your bite, jaw and airway connect? These pages explain the care that often goes alongside better sleep.
