Function & sleep
Snoring & sleep-apnoea appliances, fitted to your bite.
Custom dental appliances for snoring and mild-to-moderate sleep apnoea — typically prescribed alongside a sleep study managed through your GP. Lifecycle care in-house including fit, titration, and repair.
What a dental sleep appliance is
A dental sleep appliance — sometimes called a mandibular advancement device (MAD) or bi-maxillary appliance — is a custom plastic device worn at night that holds the lower jaw slightly forward. By doing so, it opens the airway at the back of the throat and reduces the soft-tissue collapse that causes snoring and the airway obstruction in obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA).
For snoring, a custom appliance can be effective once OSA has been ruled out — your GP can arrange a sleep study if you're unsure. For mild-to-moderate OSA, dental appliances are a recognised treatment option that the sleep specialist may prescribe in place of CPAP — particularly for patients who can't tolerate CPAP, or who travel often and need a less bulky option. For severe OSA, CPAP is usually the first-line treatment; dental appliances may be added or considered later.
Important: sleep apnoea is a medical condition that needs to be diagnosed by a sleep study — usually arranged through your GP or a sleep specialist. We don't diagnose sleep apnoea ourselves. What we do is make the appliance when one is appropriate, and provide ongoing care of that appliance — fit, titration, adjustments, repairs.
Who this suits
- Snorers without diagnosed OSA — where snoring is affecting your sleep or your partner's
- Patients with mild-to-moderate OSA for whom a sleep specialist has recommended a dental appliance
- Patients with severe OSA who can't tolerate CPAP — sometimes a dental appliance is used in combination with or as an alternative to CPAP, under specialist guidance
- Travellers — a dental appliance fits in a pocket; CPAP machines don't
If you're not sure whether you have OSA but suspect it (loud snoring, gasping awakenings, daytime fatigue, witnessed pauses in breathing), the right starting point is a conversation with your GP about a sleep study, not a dental appliance. We can write a coordinating letter if it helps.
What to expect
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Visit 1
Consultation, scan and bite registration. We discuss your sleep study findings (if available), examine your teeth, jaw and bite, and take a 3D scan plus a specific bite registration that captures the forward-jaw position the appliance will hold. We'll need your sleep specialist's recommendation if OSA is involved.
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Lab time
2–3 weeks at the lab. The appliance is fabricated to your scan and bite. No clinic visits needed during this period.
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Visit 2
Fit. We try the finished appliance in, check the fit and comfort, and walk you through how to insert, remove, clean and store it. We set the starting forward-jaw position.
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Titration
Adjustment over 2–6 weeks. Most appliances are adjustable — small forward increments to find the position that improves snoring and comfort. For OSA, whether the appliance is working overall is confirmed on a follow-up sleep study arranged by your sleep specialist.
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Specialist follow-up
Effectiveness is confirmed outside Oracare. For OSA cases, your sleep specialist will usually order a follow-up sleep study to confirm the appliance is effectively managing your condition — that's the clinical sign-off on outcomes, not us. We're available for ongoing adjustment, repair, or replacement work in-house for the life of the appliance.
Common questions
Do I need a sleep study first?
For snoring without other symptoms, not always — though a sleep study rules out underlying OSA, which is worth doing. For suspected or known sleep apnoea, yes — a sleep study managed through your GP or sleep specialist is the right starting point. We don't make appliances for OSA without specialist input because we wouldn't be able to confirm the appliance is working without follow-up sleep studies.
Is a dental appliance as effective as CPAP?
For severe OSA, no — CPAP is generally more effective. For mild-to-moderate OSA, dental appliances are a recognised alternative and can be highly effective for the right patient. The trade-off is comfort and compliance — many patients tolerate a dental appliance better than CPAP and therefore use it more consistently, which is what matters for outcomes. Your sleep specialist is the right person to weigh up your specific case.
Will it affect my jaw or bite?
Mandibular advancement devices hold the lower jaw forward all night, which can cause mild jaw soreness in the first few weeks (usually settles), and over years of use can produce small bite changes in some patients. We monitor this at your dental check-ups and adjust the appliance or the wear schedule if bite changes start to develop. Patients with existing TMJ issues need a careful conversation before starting — see TMJ care.
How long does the appliance last?
With proper care, a typical mandibular advancement device lasts 3–5 years before significant wear or material fatigue warrants replacement. Heavy grinders may wear them faster. We check condition at your dental check-ups; full lifecycle work (adjustment, repair, addition) is available in-house.
How do I clean it?
Rinse with cold water after each use, brush gently with a soft toothbrush, soak in a denture cleaner once a week, store in the ventilated case. Avoid hot water and harsh chemicals — they warp the material.
Can I get a dental appliance instead of CPAP?
It depends on the severity of your OSA and what your sleep specialist recommends. For mild-to-moderate cases, often yes. For severe OSA, CPAP is generally first-line — but if you can't tolerate CPAP, an appliance may be considered. The decision is the sleep specialist's; we make the appliance they prescribe.
Will my health fund cover it?
Most extras policies rebate part of a mandibular advancement device under major dental or oral-appliance cover. Some funds require pre-approval based on the sleep study findings. We claim through HICAPS at the chair and help with any pre-approval paperwork. Some patients also have medical-cover rebate pathways through their sleep specialist — we coordinate where possible. See Payment options.
Cost & funding
HICAPS on the spot. Most extras policies rebate part of a sleep appliance under major dental or oral-appliance cover. Some funds require pre-approval based on your sleep study; we help with paperwork. Adjustments and repairs typically rebate separately under maintenance items. Full detail on Payment options.
Related services
Snoring, or already diagnosed with sleep apnoea?
If you have a sleep study and a recommendation, we'll fit the appliance. If you're not there yet, start with your GP — we'll write a coordinating letter if helpful.