Patient guide
A Practical Guide to Dental Oral Appliance Therapy for Sleep Apnea
Learn when a custom oral appliance may be considered for diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea, how it differs from CPAP, and why medical coordination and follow-up matter.
Reviewed by Scott Schmidhauser, DMD
They are worn during sleep and designed to hold the lower jaw and related tissues in a position that helps maintain an open airway.
Start with the diagnosis
Snoring, tiredness, dry mouth, morning headaches, and restless sleep can occur for many reasons.
A dentist can screen for relevant symptoms and oral findings, but obstructive sleep apnea is a medical diagnosis. If OSA is suspected and has not already been diagnosed, medical or sleep-provider evaluation is appropriate before treatment.
Oral appliance therapy & CPAP
CPAP and oral appliances work differently.
CPAP uses pressurized air to keep the airway open. A dental oral appliance changes jaw position.
The appropriate treatment depends on the diagnosis, severity, medical factors, anatomy, preferences, and response to treatment.
Dental evaluation
Before making an appliance, we evaluate whether the teeth and oral tissues can support it.
That may include:
- teeth and restorations
- periodontal health
- tooth mobility
- missing teeth
- bite
- jaw-joint symptoms
- denture or implant considerations
- other dental findings that could affect treatment
Custom appliance & adjustment
Digital records can be used to make a custom appliance.
After delivery, the appliance is adjusted gradually based on comfort, symptoms, dental findings, and the treatment plan.
Follow-up is part of treatment
Follow-up checks the appliance, comfort, jaw or muscle symptoms, bite, tooth movement, and oral health.
The treating medical or sleep provider may recommend follow-up sleep testing to determine whether the therapy is adequately controlling the sleep disorder.
Possible dental side effects
Oral appliances can cause temporary soreness, saliva changes, tooth tenderness, bite changes, or gradual tooth movement.
Regular follow-up helps identify these changes early.
Next step
Plan a visit to our Newport office
Canobie Dental is accepting new patients. View appointment information or call with questions.