An airway orthotic holds the jaw where the airway stays open during sleep. At Natural Smiles the appliance follows a screening, gets made from digital impressions, and gets adjusted until it earns its place on your nightstand.
In short
An airway orthotic is a custom oral appliance. We place the orthotic after a screening, using digital impressions to make a custom piece. Dr. Litano adjusts the orthotic over follow-up visits, and the orthotic can pair with NightLase depending on the case.
Airway support lives or dies on fit. A custom orthotic starts from digital impressions and screening imagery, then gets titrated visit by visit until the position works.
The appliance follows the evaluation, never the other way around.
Impressions come from the scanner, and the fit shows it.
The orthotic gets dialed in across follow-up visits.
The drugstore version and the custom version solve for different things: price tonight versus airway support that holds.
Swipe left or right to see the full table
| Property | Custom orthotic | Boil-and-bite |
|---|---|---|
| Fit | Digital impressions | Soften and bite |
| Screening | Airway evaluated first | Self-diagnosed |
| Adjustment | Titrated at visits | None |
| Oversight | Response reviewed | Nobody watching |
The appliance arrives at the end of a process that starts with the airway itself.
CBCT imaging and history set the case: orthotic, NightLase, or referral.
The scanner captures the anatomy the appliance will be based on.
The custom orthotic seats, adjusts, and goes home with wear instructions.
Follow-up visits dial the position until the airway response holds.
Screening, impressions, and titration run in one office, with the scanner and lab in the building.
Three-dimensional bone and soft-tissue imaging that flat 2D x-rays walk past.
Primescan digital scanning and a Sirona MC X5 mill turn out same-visit zirconia restorations.
Five private rooms with HEPA-filtered air and natural Mirror Lake light overhead.
Dr. Carlo Litano, DMD pairs more than 20 years of biological practice with the Fotona LightWalker laser, the platform behind NightLase, LipLase, and laser periodontal care at Natural Smiles. Treatment stays less invasive and metal-free across every application.
Patients drive in from across Florida and fly in from across the U.S. A few in their own words, from 700+ reviews averaging 4.9 stars on Google, Facebook and Healthgrades.
"I drive over an hour each way to see these people but they are the best. Very meticulous and confirm to the idea of first do no harm. A rare thing in modern dentistry."
"Excellent experience because I knew I was in good hands & Dr. Litano knew what he was doing & was going to keep me safe from toxic metals!"
"Took my now 19 month old here back when she chipped her tooth at 13 months. He was great with her. … Every one who works here is so pleasant. I will continue to make the 1 hour and 15 minute drive here just because of the atmosphere!"
The questions patients ask most before a custom airway appliance.
A custom orthotic follows screening and digital impressions, then gets titrated across visits. Drugstore guards skip all three.
Apnea cases get screened and coordinated with physicians. Orthotics serve specific findings; the screening decides whether yours is one. Sleep apnea screening.
Most patients adapt across the titration visits, as the position gets adjusted to your response.
Pricing follows the screening findings and the appliance plan, in writing before fabrication.
These pages on the Natural Smiles website cover this topic from different angles.
A consultation with a 3D scan gives you a written treatment plan and cost estimate before any decisions. Call (727) 300-0044 or request a visit online.
Why systemic disease manifests in the mouth.
The guide looks at how your mouth can connect to focus, breathing, circulation, digestion, and the rest of the body.
By signing up, you agree to receive the guide and occasional emails from Natural Smiles. You can unsubscribe anytime. See our Privacy Policy.
