Find out if a dental sleep appliance may be right for you.

Q: Oral Appliance 101

A: Oral Appliances are placed in the mouth and are worn during sleep to prevent the collapse of the tongue and soft tissues in the back of the throat so that the airway stays open during sleep. The appliances promote adequate air intake and help to provide normal sleep in people who snore and have sleep apnea.

A: Oral Appliance Therapy is indicated for mild to moderate OSA patients if they prefer it to CPAP, cannot tolerate CPAP, or are unable to use positional therapy or weight loss to control their apnea.

Oral appliances are also recommended for severe OSA patients if they cannot tolerate CPAP.

A: Reports have shown more than 70 percent of patients with mild sleep apnea getting relief from using these oral appliances. Moderate sleep apnea cases have recorded about 60 percent effectiveness when using these devices and 40 percent rate of effectiveness for those suffering from severe sleep apnea.

A: There are over 100 custom oral appliances approved by the FDA that all open the airway during sleep by either repositioning the lower jaw (mandible) or indirectly pulling the tongue forward. Dr. Feidell will recommend the appliance that best combats the causes of your apnea.

Q: Setting Expectations for Treatment

A: In consultation with your sleep physician, we will determine whether you are a good candidate for oral appliance therapy and which appliance will be most effective. 

During an initial evaluation we will discuss the benefits of treatment, potential side effects and the cost of therapy.

A: Oral appliance therapy for snoring and sleep apnea is not a cure. The dental device must be worn every night for it to be effective. Your progress with the oral appliance should be monitored over time to ensure that the appliance continues to do its job in providing relief of snoring and sleep apnea and to ensure that you remain symptom free.