If you've been diagnosed with sleep apnea and can't stand your CPAP — or your partner's snoring is keeping the whole house up — there's a smaller, quieter option a lot of people don't know about: a custom oral appliance.
What an oral appliance actually is
A dental sleep appliance looks a lot like a retainer or a mouthguard. You wear it only while you sleep, and it works by gently holding your lower jaw forward, which keeps your airway open so you can breathe — and stop snoring. No mask, no hose, no machine, no electricity.
Who it tends to help
Oral appliance therapy is most often used for snoring and for mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea, and for people with more severe apnea who simply can't tolerate a CPAP. Plenty of folks have a CPAP sitting in a closet because it's loud, uncomfortable, or hard to travel with. An appliance is something you can actually stick with — and the best treatment is the one you'll wear every night.
What to expect
We take a digital scan of your teeth, design an appliance that fits just you, and fine-tune the jaw position over a few visits until you (and your partner) are sleeping better. It's small enough to toss in a bag for travel, and easy to clean.
One honest note
Sleep apnea is a medical condition, so the first step is a proper diagnosis — usually a sleep study through your physician or a sleep specialist. We work alongside that diagnosis, not around it. If an oral appliance is a fit, we'll handle the dental side; if your case calls for CPAP, we'll tell you straight.
Ready when you are
Curious whether an appliance could finally get you a quiet night's sleep? Learn more on our sleep apnea & snoring page, or give us a call — no pressure, just an honest conversation.