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For selected patients, a custom oral appliance offers a comfortable alternative to CPAP, without a mask at night. Explore your treatment options with Houston Sleep Health.
An oral appliance is a dental device made to fit your mouth and worn during sleep. It supports the upper airway by gently moving the lower jaw and/or tongue forward.
This approach does not use the mask, tubing, or pressurized air associated with CPAP.
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine and American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine recommend considering this option for adults with obstructive sleep apnea who cannot tolerate CPAP or prefer an alternative. Their guidance favors custom, adjustable appliances supplied by qualified dentists over non-custom devices.
Discuss your optionsThis treatment may appeal to people with the following needs or circumstances. These factors do not, on their own, establish suitability.
Your sleep physician considers your sleep study, airway anatomy, OSA severity, dental health, and other factors before recommending treatment.
Generic “boil-and-bite” products are not a substitute for medical assessment and professionally supervised treatment. A properly fitted appliance should meet four key needs.
Made for the shape of your mouth and the way your teeth come together, with fit assessed by a qualified dental provider.
Designed for gradual advancement, so your provider can refine its position as part of your individual treatment plan.
Careful fitting and adjustments support comfortable use. Your dental provider can help address difficulties as you adapt.
Treatment effectiveness needs to be assessed, with follow-up to determine whether your sleep apnea is being controlled.
For an appropriate candidate, oral appliance therapy may offer a treatment routine that fits more naturally into daily life.
Its compact size makes it easy to pack and take with you when you travel.
The appliance is worn in your mouth, without a CPAP mask or hose.
Use it while you sleep without the sound of a bedside CPAP machine.
A compact dental device offers a discreet alternative to traditional CPAP equipment.
Some people find it easier to use consistently, particularly when CPAP is difficult to tolerate.
Oral appliances can improve sleep-related breathing and daytime sleepiness. CPAP generally reduces breathing events more and improves oxygen levels to a greater degree.
Effective treatment involves more than receiving a device. Your sleep physician and dental provider guide the assessment, fitting, adjustments, and follow-up.
Start with a consultationConfirm your diagnosis and assess whether an oral appliance is a suitable treatment option.
A qualified dental sleep provider checks your teeth, jaw, bite, and ability to use the device.
Your appliance is made specifically for your mouth, then fitted by your dental provider.
Your provider adjusts the device over time to identify an appropriate therapeutic position.
Objective testing may be used to check whether the appliance is controlling your sleep apnea.
Your sleep physician and dental provider monitor treatment and help resolve issues as they arise.
The right choice depends on your diagnosis, sleep study, sleep apnea severity, health history, and treatment needs.
| Consideration | CPAP therapy | Oral appliance therapy |
|---|---|---|
| Treatment effect | Generally produces a greater reduction in the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), a measure of breathing events during sleep. | Can be effective for appropriately selected patients; follow-up assesses the response. |
| Suitability | Particularly effective for moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea. | An alternative for selected patients, including some who cannot tolerate CPAP. |
| Equipment | Uses a machine, mask, and tubing. | A compact oral device without a mask or tubing. |
| Use & monitoring | Provides objective nightly treatment data. | May be easier for some patients to use; follow-up and sleep testing help evaluate effectiveness. |
| Travel | Requires bringing the machine and its accessories. | Small and portable, with no electrical outlet needed for use. |
Understand the fit, follow-up, and everyday use of oral appliance therapy.
Talk with our teamIt can be, for selected adults with obstructive sleep apnea who cannot tolerate CPAP or prefer another approach. Your sleep physician can assess whether it is appropriate for you.
Your physician reviews your sleep study, OSA severity, airway anatomy, dental health, and treatment preferences. Difficulty tolerating CPAP may be one reason to consider an appliance, but an individual assessment is needed.
The custom device is worn while you sleep. It repositions the lower jaw to support the upper airway and help reduce obstruction.
CPAP generally reduces breathing events and improves oxygen levels more than oral appliance therapy. An appliance can still be an appropriate option for selected patients, particularly when CPAP is difficult to use or another treatment is preferred.
You begin with a sleep assessment and treatment plan. If this option is suitable, a qualified dental provider evaluates your mouth and fits a custom device. Adjustments and follow-up help assess comfort, fit, and treatment effectiveness.
The adjustment period differs from person to person. Your dental sleep provider can help refine the fit as you become accustomed to sleeping with the device.
Yes. Your providers review comfort, fit, symptoms, and treatment response. They may recommend follow-up sleep testing to assess how well the appliance is working.
Yes. Its compact size makes it convenient to pack. It does not require a CPAP machine, hose, or an electrical outlet for use.
Schedule a consultation with Houston Sleep Health to find out whether oral appliance therapy could be appropriate for your sleep apnea.