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How does a home sleep test work?

Mon, 28 Sep 2026 09:00:00 GMT

If you've been told you snore, or you wake up tired no matter how early you went to bed, the idea of a sleep study can feel like one more appointment to dread. Most people picture a hospital room, a tangle of wires and a night of lying awake. At A-Z Sleep & Airway Center, your sleep study happens in your own bed with a small wearable device, and your results come back to us the next day. This post walks you through how a home sleep test works, what it tells us, and what happens once you have answers.

What is a home sleep test?

A home sleep test is a sleep study you take overnight in your own bed, using a small device that records your breathing while you sleep. It's designed to catch the pauses in breathing that point to sleep apnea, which is why it's the first step toward a diagnosis. Mayo Clinic explains that home testing kits monitor a limited number of measurements to detect breathing pauses during sleep, and those pauses are the first answer we need.

Our device is about the size of a watch, with a soft clip for your finger and a small sensor for your chest. You wear it for one night, and it sends your results straight back to our team.

How does the test work, step by step?

We show you exactly how the device works before you leave our office, so you head home feeling ready for bedtime. From there, your phone does most of the guiding:

At your consultation, we go over your symptoms and your sleep history, then walk you through the device.
At bedtime, you scan a code with your phone, and the app guides you through putting on the watch, the finger clip and the chest sensor.
You go to sleep the way you normally would, in your own bed.
In the morning you're done, and there's nothing to bring back to the office.
Your results come back to us the next day, and a physician reads them and makes the diagnosis.

If you can put on a watch and place a small sticker on your chest, you can do this test. Even patients who aren't comfortable with technology find it simple, and we make sure you feel at ease with every piece before you head home.

Is a home sleep test as accurate as a lab study?

For many people, a home test gives a clear picture of what's happening at night, because you're sleeping in the same room and the same bed as every other night. A night in an unfamiliar lab can look different from your real nights, and a home test catches you on an ordinary one. If your results point to a more complex sleep problem, we'll talk with you about the next step and coordinate with a sleep physician when your care calls for it.

What happens after your results come back?

Once your results are in, you'll review them with our team or a sleep physician so you understand what they mean for your health. If the test shows sleep apnea, we'll walk you through your options, whether that's a custom oral appliance , a CPAP or a combination of the two, and build a plan around what you'll comfortably wear every night.

If the test shows snoring without sleep apnea, a custom appliance can still help quiet it, so you and your partner both sleep better. And if you go on to wear an oral appliance, you'll take another home sleep test with it in place, so we can confirm it's working and keep adjusting it until it does.

When should you ask about a sleep test?

It's worth asking about a home sleep test if any of these sound familiar. They're drawn from the signs Mayo Clinic lists for obstructive sleep apnea:

Snoring loud enough to disturb your sleep or the sleep of the person next to you
Waking up gasping or choking
A partner noticing that you stop breathing in your sleep
Feeling exhausted during the day, even after a full night in bed
Morning headaches, or waking up with a dry mouth or sore throat

Mayo Clinic links obstructive sleep apnea to high blood pressure and heart problems, and notes that the risk climbs as the apnea gets worse. The reassuring part is that sleep apnea is very treatable once it's found, and finding it starts with one night in your own bed. If you'd like a sense of your risk first, take our online STOP-BANG sleep screening before your visit.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to go to a sleep lab for a sleep study?

For many people, no. At A-Z Sleep & Airway Center, your sleep study happens at home in your own bed with a small wearable device about the size of a watch. If your results point to a more complex sleep problem, we'll talk with you about next steps and coordinate with a sleep physician when your care calls for it.

How soon will I get my home sleep test results?

Your results come straight back to us the next day, so you're not left waiting to find out what's going on. A physician reads your study and makes the diagnosis, and then our team sits down with you to explain what it means and talk through your treatment options.

Is a home sleep test hard to set up?

Most people find it simple. We show you how the device works before you leave our office, and at bedtime you scan a code with your phone so the app can guide you step by step. If you can put on a watch and place a small sticker on your chest, you can do this test.

How does insurance work for sleep testing?

Sleep and airway care runs through your medical insurance, not dental. We accept all major medical insurances, verify your benefits before treatment and explain any out-of-pocket cost up front. If you don't have medical insurance, your initial sleep and airway consultation is $199, and financing through Cherry is available.

Book your visit in Glen Allen

If you're tired of waking up tired, one night in your own bed can start giving you real answers. Call A-Z Sleep & Airway Center at (804)-767-2507 or book online, and we'll find a consultation time that works for you. You'll find us in the Shops at Cross Ridge at 10220 Staples Mill Rd, Glen Allen, VA 23060, with free parking right outside.

Keep reading: home sleep testing , what to expect at your first visit , insurance and financing for sleep care .

Published by A-Z Sleep & Airway Center.

Looking for a CPAP alternative?

Mon, 28 Sep 2026 09:00:00 GMT

If your CPAP spends more nights on the nightstand than on your face, you're in good company, and you haven't failed at treatment. The mask, the hose and the hum of the machine can make it hard to fall asleep, and plenty of people end up setting it aside while the exhaustion comes right back. For mild to moderate sleep apnea, a custom oral appliance is a proven CPAP alternative, and for severe apnea it can work alongside your CPAP. This post covers how an oral appliance works, who it's right for, and how we make sure it's treating your apnea.

Why is CPAP so hard for some people to wear?

CPAP keeps your airway open by pushing a steady stream of air through a mask, and it's very effective on the nights you wear it. Mayo Clinic notes that some people find the mask uncomfortable or loud, and if you feel claustrophobic in a mask, bedtime can start to feel like a struggle.

What protects your health is being treated every night, so the best treatment is the one you'll wear. Dr. Ashlee Goodman-Tabari tells patients who've stopped using their machine, "if you're not using your CPAP, it's better to use something than nothing."

What is the most common CPAP alternative?

The most common CPAP alternative is a custom oral appliance, a small device that fits like a retainer and gently holds your lower jaw forward while you sleep. That keeps your tongue and the soft tissue in your throat from falling back and blocking your airway, so you keep breathing freely through the night, and all you wear is one small, lightweight piece. The ADA's MouthHealthy site notes that research shows oral appliances can successfully prevent sleep apnea in some mild to moderate cases.

The appliance is light enough to fit in your pocket, makes no noise and needs no electricity, which makes it easy to pack for a trip. You can talk with it in and move your jaw freely, so it feels far less confining than a mask for many people.

Is an oral appliance as effective as a CPAP?

For mild to moderate sleep apnea, a custom oral appliance can be as effective as a CPAP, and because it's so much easier to wear, many people use it more consistently. For severe apnea, CPAP remains the most effective option, and Mayo Clinic notes that oral appliances are also used for people with severe sleep apnea who can't use CPAP. In that case we often recommend combination therapy, using your CPAP and your appliance together or on different nights, and we work with your sleep physician to find the right mix.

How it works: CPAP: A mask and a stream of air hold your airway open. Custom oral appliance: Holds your lower jaw forward to keep your airway open.
Best suited for: CPAP: Sleep apnea of any severity, especially severe. Custom oral appliance: Mild to moderate apnea, or alongside CPAP for severe apnea.
Noise and power: CPAP: Runs on a machine with a hose. Custom oral appliance: Silent, with no electricity needed.
Travel: CPAP: Machine, mask and hose to pack. Custom oral appliance: Fits in your pocket.

How do we make sure your appliance is working?

An appliance only helps if it's treating your apnea, so we confirm it with testing instead of taking it on faith. Here's how the process works with us:

A sleep study confirms your diagnosis and how severe your apnea is. If your last one was a while ago, we can update it with a simple home sleep test.
We take a 3D scan of your mouth and choose a comfortable starting position for your jaw.
Your appliance is custom made in a lab and comes back in about three weeks.
We fine-tune it over follow-up visits, and if anything rubs or bothers a tooth, we adjust it.
You take another home sleep test with the appliance in, and we share the results with your sleep physician so everyone can see your treatment is working.

Mayo Clinic recommends close follow-up with a dentist experienced in dental sleep medicine appliances, and that follow-through is part of every appliance we make. You can read more about the fitting process on our oral appliance therapy page, or see a side-by-side on our CPAP vs. oral appliance page.

When should you talk to us about your CPAP?

If your CPAP is sitting unused, or you pull the mask off partway through the night, it's worth a conversation. The same goes if you still snore or feel sleepy even though you're wearing it, which Mayo Clinic says is a reason to check in with your provider. When you come in, bring any current sleep appliance and your sleep physician's contact information, and we'll take it from there.

Frequently asked questions

I was prescribed a CPAP but I can't stand it. What are my options?

You have options. Many people who can't tolerate CPAP do well with a custom oral appliance, especially for mild to moderate sleep apnea. We'll review your diagnosis with your sleep physician, update your sleep study if it's been a while, and find a treatment you'll comfortably wear every night.

Is switching from CPAP to an oral appliance a step down?

For mild to moderate sleep apnea, an oral appliance can be as effective as a CPAP, so you're keeping your protection. What matters most is wearing your treatment every night, and for many people a small, silent appliance is far easier to live with than a mask and a hose.

Can I use an oral appliance and a CPAP together?

Yes. For severe sleep apnea, combination therapy can be a good solution, using your CPAP and an oral appliance together or on different nights. It's especially helpful when you can't wear your CPAP every night. We'll work with your sleep physician to figure out the right mix for you.

Does medical insurance cover an oral appliance for sleep apnea?

Oral appliance therapy is billed through your medical insurance, not dental, because it treats a medical condition. We accept all major medical insurances, verify your benefits before treatment, and explain any out-of-pocket cost up front. Financing through Cherry is also available if you'd like to spread out your payments.

Book your visit in Glen Allen

You deserve a treatment you can sleep with. Call A-Z Sleep & Airway Center at (804)-767-2507 or book online, and we'll look at your diagnosis together and talk through what will work for you. Our office is at 10220 Staples Mill Rd in Glen Allen, inside the Shops at Cross Ridge, and we see patients from across Glen Allen and Richmond.

Keep reading: insurance and coverage for oral appliances , custom vs. over-the-counter sleep devices .

Published by A-Z Sleep & Airway Center.

What is upper airway resistance syndrome?

Mon, 28 Sep 2026 09:00:00 GMT

Few things are as discouraging as finally doing a sleep study, hearing that your results look normal, and still dragging yourself through every afternoon. You know your exhaustion is real, and you want someone to keep looking. Upper airway resistance syndrome, or UARS, is one of the answers that often gets missed, and it's a condition Dr. Ashlee Goodman-Tabari knows firsthand. This post explains what UARS is, how it differs from sleep apnea, and how we look for it and treat it.

What is upper airway resistance syndrome?

Upper airway resistance syndrome is a sleep-disordered breathing problem where your airway narrows enough to make every breath harder work, without closing off completely the way it does in sleep apnea. Your body keeps straining for air through the night, your oxygen levels can dip, and your sleep gets broken up, so you wake up feeling like you never rested. Because your breathing never fully stops, UARS may not register as apnea on a basic reading.

How is UARS different from sleep apnea?

With obstructive sleep apnea, your airway collapses and you stop breathing, over and over, through the night. Mayo Clinic describes the classic signs as loud snoring, pauses in breathing that a partner often notices, and waking up gasping or choking. With UARS, your airway narrows and strains your breathing without fully stopping it. Both disrupt your sleep and drop your oxygen, and both can be treated.

What your airway does: Obstructive sleep apnea: Collapses enough that breathing stops. Upper airway resistance syndrome: Narrows enough that breathing gets harder.
How it shows up on a basic test: Obstructive sleep apnea: Pauses in breathing are counted. Upper airway resistance syndrome: Can be missed because breathing doesn't fully stop.
How you feel: Obstructive sleep apnea: Tired, foggy, often snoring loudly. Upper airway resistance syndrome: Exhausted, foggy or anxious, often with a normal result.
How we treat it: Obstructive sleep apnea: Oral appliance, CPAP or both, based on severity. Upper airway resistance syndrome: Custom oral appliance to hold the airway open.

What does UARS feel like day to day?

Many of the daytime signs of UARS overlap with the ones Mayo Clinic lists for sleep apnea, and they're easy to blame on a busy life:

Waking up tired even after a full night in bed
Brain fog and trouble focusing
Morning headaches
Feeling anxious or easily upset

A lot of people spend years putting these down to stress or age and never connect them to the way they breathe at night. When a sleep test comes back normal on top of that, it's easy to stop asking questions, and that's exactly when a closer look at your airway can help.

Why does Dr. Goodman-Tabari look so closely for UARS?

Dr. Goodman-Tabari has UARS herself and treats it with an oral appliance, so she knows how it feels to be told everything looks fine while you're running on empty. That experience shapes how carefully she looks for it in every patient she sees.

She also reads your mouth for clues. In her words, "a quick evaluation of the position of your jaw, the size of your tongue, or even the shape of your arch of your teeth can show us whether you suffer from sleep apnea, whether you stop breathing at night." Those same features help her spot the narrowing behind UARS. You can read more about her story on our Meet Dr. Goodman-Tabari page.

How is UARS diagnosed and treated?

Finding UARS takes a careful look at your airway and the right kind of testing. The process looks like this:

Before your visit, we send you a short sleep questionnaire so we understand your concerns.
At your consultation, we take a digital scan of your mouth and a 3D image to look closely at your bite and airway, and Dr. Goodman-Tabari does a head and neck exam.
We arrange the right sleep testing for you, starting with a simple at-home study, and a physician reads the results.
If we find UARS, a custom oral appliance gently holds your lower jaw forward so your airway stays open and your breathing isn't strained through the night.
We fine-tune the appliance over follow-up visits and retest to confirm your oxygen is holding steady.

When it helps, we also bring in our partner myofunctional therapist, who works like a physical therapist for your mouth and airway. Mayo Clinic notes that a sleep specialist is the one who diagnoses a sleep breathing problem and gauges how severe it is, which is why a physician reads every study we send out.

When should you ask us about UARS?

If you're exhausted most days, your sleep test came back normal, and nothing you've tried has helped, it's worth a second look at your airway. Excessive daytime drowsiness is one of the signs Mayo Clinic says is worth raising with a health professional. You can learn more on our upper airway resistance syndrome page.

Frequently asked questions

My sleep test was normal but I'm always tired. Could it be UARS?

It could be. Upper airway resistance syndrome strains your breathing without fully stopping it, so it can be missed on a basic reading. A closer look at your airway and the right testing can find it, and it's treatable with a custom oral appliance. We'd be glad to take that closer look with you.

Is UARS the same as sleep apnea?

They're related, and they're different. With sleep apnea, you stop breathing over and over through the night. With UARS, your airway narrows and makes breathing harder without fully stopping. Both disrupt your sleep and drop your oxygen, and both can be treated once we know which one you're dealing with.

Can an oral appliance help with UARS?

Yes. A custom oral appliance gently holds your lower jaw forward so your airway stays open and your breathing isn't strained through the night. It's the same approach that treats mild to moderate sleep apnea, applied to the narrowing behind UARS, and we fine-tune it and retest until it's working for you.

How do I get started if I think I have UARS?

Call us at (804)-767-2507 or book online. Before your visit, we'll send a short sleep questionnaire. At your consultation, we'll scan your mouth, take a 3D image of your bite and airway, and talk through your symptoms. When you're ready, we'll arrange your at-home sleep test.

Book your visit in Glen Allen

You deserve to wake up feeling rested, and you deserve someone who keeps looking until you do. Schedule your consultation with Dr. Goodman-Tabari by calling A-Z Sleep & Airway Center at (804)-767-2507, or book online. We're at 10220 Staples Mill Rd, Glen Allen, VA 23060, between the eye doctor and the vet in the Shops at Cross Ridge.

Keep reading: home sleep testing , signs and symptoms of sleep apnea .

Published by A-Z Sleep & Airway Center.

Signs of sleep apnea in children

Mon, 28 Sep 2026 09:00:00 GMT

Hearing your child snore from down the hall can seem sweet the first time and worrying by the tenth. Maybe their teacher has mentioned trouble focusing, or mornings have turned into a battle to get them out of bed. Snoring, mouth breathing and restless sleep can all point to your child's airway, and because kids are still growing, looking into it early can make a real difference. This post covers the signs of sleep apnea in children, what causes it, and how we gently check your child's sleep at home.

What are the signs of sleep apnea in children?

The most common signs of sleep apnea in children are snoring, mouth breathing and restless sleep at night, along with trouble focusing, irritability or behavior changes during the day. Mayo Clinic lists these signs to watch for:

At night

Snoring
Pauses in breathing
Restless sleep
Snorting, gasping, coughing or choking
Mouth breathing
Nighttime sweating
Bed-wetting that starts after a long stretch of dry nights

During the day

Morning headaches
Breathing through the mouth, or trouble breathing through the nose
Trouble learning and paying attention
Acting hyper, impulsive or aggressive

Many of these daytime signs are easy to mistake for a child who's simply having a hard season, so it helps to look at their nights and their days together.

What causes sleep apnea in kids?

In children, sleep apnea happens when the muscles at the back of the throat relax during sleep and block the upper airway. Mayo Clinic notes that the most common risk factor is enlarged tonsils and adenoids.

The shape of your child's jaw and mouth plays a part too. A narrow arch can leave the tongue without enough room, so it falls back toward the airway, and because a child's jaw and airway are still developing, the way they breathe and swallow can shape how that airway grows.

Does a child's snoring really matter?

It can. In children, snoring and mouth breathing can affect sleep quality, focus and how the airway develops. Mayo Clinic notes that untreated sleep apnea in children can affect attention, learning and weight gain, and is linked with high blood pressure and other heart and blood vessel problems. The encouraging part is that catching these patterns early can help address problems before they grow, and it gives your child a better shot at the restful nights they need.

How do we check a child's sleep and airway?

We keep the whole process gentle and family friendly, and we explain every step in plain language so you can make confident decisions:

We start by talking with you about your child's symptoms, their sleep and how their days are going.
We look carefully at your child's airway and bite.
Sleep testing happens at home, in your child's own bed, and we walk your family through it before you leave.
When care calls for it, we coordinate with your child's physician, and our partner myofunctional therapist can work with your child too.

It helps to come in with a picture of your child's nights. Over several evenings before the visit, jot down what you notice: snoring, pauses in breathing, mouth breathing, sweating, how restless they seem and how they wake up in the morning. Notes from a teacher about focus or behavior are useful too, because they help us connect what happens at night with how your child's days are going.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry encourages dentists to screen children for sleep-related breathing problems and to refer them to a medical provider for diagnosis, which is why working hand in hand with your child's doctors is part of how we care for kids. You can learn more on our children's sleep and airway page.

When should you bring your child in?

If your child snores most nights, breathes through their mouth, or seems tired and scattered during the day, it's worth a look. We generally see children from around age six or seven. If your child is younger and you're noticing these signs, call us anyway, and we'll help you figure out the right next step for your family.

To make the first visit easy on everyone, we send you our patient forms and a short sleep questionnaire ahead of time, so we already understand your concerns when you and your child walk in. You can find them on our new patients page.

Frequently asked questions

How young can a child be seen for sleep and airway care?

We generally see children from around age six or seven. If you're noticing snoring, mouth breathing or restless sleep in a younger child, reach out anyway. We'll listen to what you're seeing at home and help you understand the right next step for your family, including whether your child's physician should be involved.

Is it normal for my child to snore?

Occasional light snoring is usually harmless, but loud or regular snoring can be a sign that your child's airway is partly blocked. In children, snoring and mouth breathing can affect sleep quality, focus and how the airway develops, so it's worth having it checked while your child is still growing.

Is a sleep test hard on a child?

No. The at-home sleep test is simple and done in your child's own bed, which is far more comfortable than a night in a lab. We walk your family through every step before you go home, so you and your child know exactly what to expect when bedtime comes around.

Does my child's mouth breathing have anything to do with their sleep?

It can. Mouth breathing is one of the signs Mayo Clinic lists for sleep apnea in children, and because a child's jaw and airway are still developing, the way they breathe can shape how their airway grows. We look at your child's airway and bite to understand what's behind it.

Book your visit in Glen Allen

Your child deserves to sleep soundly and wake up ready for the day. Call A-Z Sleep & Airway Center at (804)-767-2507 or book online, and we'll talk through what you're seeing at home and how we can help. Our office is in the Shops at Cross Ridge at 10220 Staples Mill Rd in Glen Allen, with plenty of parking right out front.

Keep reading: snoring vs. sleep apnea , what causes snoring .

Published by A-Z Sleep & Airway Center.