Sleep apnoea oral appliance
Specialist in the article
Revised 9/27/2024
Sleep apnoea oral appliance at a glance
- A sleep apnoea oral appliance made by a dentist and individually shaped for your bite is a good treatment option, especially for mild sleep apnoea and for more severe sleep apnoea if CPAP therapy is not suitable for you.
- For an oral appliance for sleep apnoea, you will need a sleep apnea examination, night polygraphy (available with a doctor's referral), the statement of which recommends a sleep apnoea oral appliance as the treatment method.
- A dental check-up must be performed and the good condition of the teeth must be ensured before an assessment for a sleep apnoea oral appliance.
- After the first appointment for a sleep apnoea oral appliance, the making and fitting of the oral appliance will usually take two visits to the dentist.
Benefits of the sleep apnoea oral appliance
In milder forms of sleep apnoea or if CPAP therapy is not an option, a sleep apnoea oral appliance can be considered.
- A sleep apnoea oral appliance is made jointly by a dentist and a dental laboratory and is individually shaped for the patient's teeth.
- The sleep apnoea oral appliance mechanically pulls the lower jaw and soft tissues forward, increasing the airway volume in the pharynx.
- The sleep apnoea oral appliance is different from the oral appliance used to treat teeth grinding.
The sleep apnoea oral appliance will be less effective if the patient is significantly overweight in addition to having sleep apnoea.
How to get a sleep apnoea oral appliance
You have received a recommendation for a sleep apnoea oral appliance as a treatment for sleep apnoea in the statement of the concise sleep polygraphy.
A separate referral is not required.
Book an appointment with a Hammas Mehiläinen dentist who makes sleep apnoea oral appliances. During the first appointment for a sleep apnoea oral appliance, the dentist examines the mouth, soft tissues and jaw movement.
Please note that a dental check-up must be performed and the good condition of the teeth must be ensured before an assessment for a sleep apnoea oral appliance.
During the following visits, an impression of your mouth will be taken and the oral appliance will be fitted for your mouth after it has been completed.
The effectiveness of the oral appliance therapy for sleep apnoea can be monitored by performing another concise sleep polygraphy with you wearing your sleep apnoea oral appliance while sleeping. The response to sleep apnoea oral appliance therapy should be monitored, especially during the first few months, in order to optimise the effectiveness of the oral appliance therapy.
What if a sleep apnoea oral appliance cannot be made?
If a sleep apnoea oral appliance cannot be made or you are unable to adapt to the treatment, your dentist may advise you to book an appointment with a sleep apnoea nurse to start CPAP therapy, for example.
Possible obstacles to making and using a sleep apnoea oral appliance include completely toothless jaws, few remaining teeth, acute occlusal problems and other untreated oral problems.
Prices are starting prices and depend on the selected studies and treatment methods. An outpatient clinic fee and Kanta fee are added to consultation visits.
| Service | Price estimate |
|---|---|
| Start of CPAP machine therapy (1st appointment with a sleep apnoea nurse) *The customer purchases a CPAP machine for themselves, starting from EUR 223.90. | from 223,90 € No Kela reimbursement |
| Initial examination for snoring | from 66,80 € Without Kela reimbursement from 96,80 € |
| Concise sleep polygraphy No Kela reimbursement will be paid for a concise sleep polygraphy. Learn more and book an appointment for a concise sleep polygraphy | from 542,40 € No Kela reimbursement |
| First appointment for a sleep apnoea oral appliance The estimated total price of a sleep apnoea oral appliance starts from about EUR 1,200. Learn more and book a first appointment for a sleep apnoea oral appliance | from 96,80 € Without Kela reimbursement from 123,80 € |
| Initial evaluation for sleep apnoea | from 66,80 € Without Kela reimbursement from 96,80 € |
| Initial examination of sleep disorders | from 66,80 € Without Kela reimbursement from 96,80 € |
Related symptoms
Frequently asked questions about sleep apnoea oral appliances
The sleep apnoea oral appliance is an individually shaped oral appliance that is adjusted for the patient's bite. Sleep apnoea oral appliances are available through a dentist who is familiar with them.
The sleep apnoea oral appliance moves the lower jaw and tongue muscles forward, which keeps the airway open during sleep.
A sleep apnoea oral appliance is a good treatment option, especially for mild sleep apnoea and for more severe sleep apnoea if CPAP therapy is not suitable for you. A sleep apnoea oral appliance requires having a sufficient number of your own teeth in your mouth and regular dental care.
A sleep apnoea oral appliance and an oral appliance for snoring are technically the same thing. However, from a therapeutic point of view, they are two different things. The oral appliance is a sleep apnoea oral appliance if the patient has been diagnosed with sleep apnoea. If the patient has not been diagnosed with sleep apnoea but snores in a way that bothers themselves or others, the oral appliance is an oral appliance for snoring. A doctor's diagnosis is essential for the proper treatment of the condition.
Sleep apnoea is a sleep-related breathing disorder in which breathing is significantly and repeatedly paused or reduced during sleep. Pauses in breathing cause a person with sleep apnoea to have repeated sleep disruptions, up to hundreds in one night. This means that the sleep will not be restorative. Untreated sleep apnoea puts a strain on the body and makes you prone to various illnesses.
Avoiding excess weight gain, losing weight, not smoking, exercising, reducing alcohol consumption and avoiding central nervous system depressants lower the risk of sleep apnoea and often reduce the severity of diagnosed sleep apnoea. If lifestyle changes are not sufficient, sleep apnoea can be treated with a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine or a sleep apnoea oral appliance, and, in some cases, also with positional therapy or surgery.
The estimated price for the first appointment for a sleep apnoea oral appliance is EUR 97–282. The exact price will be determined by the extent of the procedure and the treatment method used, which will be decided upon at the appointment. The estimated total price of the oral appliance starts from EUR 1,200.