For mild-to-moderate obstructive sleep apnea, a custom oral appliance holds your jaw gently forward overnight to keep your airway open, no machine, no mask, no hose.
Obstructive sleep apnea happens when the soft tissue at the back of your throat collapses during sleep, blocking airflow. A mandibular advancement device is a custom-fitted appliance, worn like a nightguard, that holds your lower jaw slightly forward, which pulls the tongue and soft tissue away from the airway so breathing stays open through the night.
Oral appliance therapy is a well-established, FDA-cleared treatment for mild-to-moderate OSA and for primary snoring, and many patients who can't tolerate CPAP use it successfully instead. It is important to be honest about its limits: for severe OSA, CPAP remains the gold-standard treatment, and we won't recommend an appliance as a substitute when the diagnosis calls for CPAP.
Oral appliance therapy has a real and specific role in sleep apnea treatment. We coordinate with your physician or a sleep study to confirm it's the right fit before we build anything.
A sleep study showing mild or moderate obstructive sleep apnea is the clearest indication for oral appliance therapy.
Many patients with more severe OSA who can't tolerate CPAP long-term are candidates for an appliance as an alternative, in coordination with their physician.
If a sleep study rules out significant apnea but snoring is disruptive, an appliance can reduce or eliminate it.
An appliance fits in a small case with no power source or hose, which some patients find easier for travel than a CPAP machine.
Candidates need enough healthy teeth to anchor the appliance and a jaw joint that tolerates the forward position without pain.
If you don't already have a diagnosis, we help coordinate a home or in-lab sleep study with a physician to confirm OSA severity. This step isn't optional, appliance therapy starts with a real diagnosis, not a guess.
We examine your teeth, gums, and jaw joint to confirm you're a good candidate and check for anything, like active gum disease, that needs attention first.
We take a digital scan of your bite and send it to a lab that fabricates a custom mandibular advancement device fitted specifically to your teeth and jaw.
We fit the appliance and gradually adjust the jaw position over several weeks to find the setting that controls symptoms with the least discomfort, then follow up with a repeat sleep study to confirm it's working.
CPAP is more effective at controlling apnea across all severity levels and remains the standard for severe OSA. An oral appliance is a smaller, quieter option for mild-to-moderate cases, or for patients who've tried CPAP and can't tolerate it.
Oral appliance therapy is often partially covered by medical insurance, not dental insurance, since sleep apnea is a medical diagnosis, we help you understand which applies and verify benefits before starting. Cost depends on the appliance type and how much titration and follow-up your case needs. CareCredit and Lending Club financing are available for any remaining balance.
Our clinic is in network with most PPOs and accepts all insurance plans. We'll verify your benefits and file the claim on your behalf.
Spread payment over time with interest-free financing through Lending Club or CareCredit, so cost isn't the reason you delay treatment.
Not insured? Our in-house membership plan simplifies preventative care and saves on treatment, a smart alternative when insurance isn't a fit.
Learn About MembershipOur team coordinates with sleep physicians on every oral appliance case, so treatment is based on your actual diagnosis, not assumptions about your symptoms.
Over a decade of practice in the DC area. Certified Invisalign provider and AAFE-certified in Botox therapeutics for TMJ and facial pain.
Restorative, cosmetic, and complex oral surgery. Invisalign and dental implant certified, with a special focus on patients with dental anxiety.
Compassionate care with a friendly approach. A Fairfax native who combines clinical expertise with genuine warmth that puts patients at ease.
Multi-disciplinary, comprehensive dentistry with a pragmatic approach. Passionate about patient education and staying current with advances in dental care.
Still have questions? Book a consultation at any of our three offices and we'll walk you through your options in plain language.
Book ConsultationYes. We won't fit an oral appliance without a diagnosis confirming OSA severity, either from a prior sleep study or one we help coordinate. This protects you, an appliance that isn't matched to your actual severity level won't control your symptoms properly.
Generally not as a first-line treatment. CPAP remains the most effective option for severe OSA. An oral appliance may be considered for severe cases only when a patient genuinely cannot tolerate CPAP, and that decision should involve your sleep physician alongside us.
Most patients adjust within one to two weeks. Some mild jaw soreness or increased saliva in the first few nights is common as your mouth adapts, and we gradually titrate the jaw position to minimize discomfort while still controlling your symptoms.
We schedule a follow-up sleep study after you've adjusted to the appliance to confirm your apnea is actually controlled, not just assume it based on how you feel. Feeling more rested is a good sign, but the follow-up study is what confirms it.
Oral appliance therapy for sleep apnea is typically billed to medical insurance rather than dental insurance, since OSA is a medical diagnosis. We verify your specific medical benefits and let you know your expected out-of-pocket cost before we begin.
Yes, and we'll tell you honestly if a follow-up sleep study shows the appliance isn't adequately controlling your apnea. Some patients also use both at different times, depending on travel or comfort, in coordination with their physician.
Bring your sleep study if you have one, or let us help you get one scheduled. We'll give you a straight answer on whether an oral appliance is appropriate for your severity level.
No pressure. No obligation. Just a clear picture of what's possible.
New patients always welcome. Fill out the form and we'll reach out to talk through oral appliance therapy, or call the office nearest you.