Dental sleep medicine is the part of dentistry that helps manage snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea with custom oral appliances, working alongside sleep physicians. It also deals with night-time tooth grinding where this is linked to disturbed sleep.
The main device is a mandibular advancement splint, which holds the lower jaw slightly forward during sleep to keep the airway open. It is an established option for simple snoring and for mild to moderate sleep apnoea, and for people who cannot tolerate CPAP. It is less effective than CPAP in severe apnoea, and a dentist should not treat apnoea without a medical sleep study.
Conditions this service looks after
- Habitual snoring
- Mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnoea
- Severe sleep apnoea in people who cannot use CPAP, as a second-line option
- Sleep bruxism (tooth grinding and clenching)
- Morning jaw ache and headaches linked to clenching
- Tooth wear and cracked restorations from night grinding
Tests you may be offered
- Sleep study: Home sleep apnoea testing or overnight polysomnography, ordered and interpreted by a sleep physician. It is essential before appliance treatment for apnoea.
- Screening questionnaires: Epworth Sleepiness Scale and STOP-Bang estimate sleepiness and apnoea risk.
- Dental and jaw joint examination: You need enough healthy teeth to anchor the device and a jaw that can move forward comfortably.
- Airway and ENT assessment: Looks for nasal blockage, large tonsils or other causes better treated surgically.
- Follow-up sleep study: Confirms that the appliance is actually controlling the apnoea, not just the noise.
Treatments available
- Custom mandibular advancement device: Two fitted splints joined by an adjustable mechanism. The jaw is advanced in small steps over weeks until symptoms improve.
- Boil-and-bite devices: Cheaper and useful as a trial for snoring, but bulkier and less well retained.
- Tongue-retaining device: An option for people with few or no teeth.
- Occlusal splint for bruxism: A hard night guard that protects teeth. It does not treat apnoea and a flat upper guard can occasionally worsen it.
- Combined care: Weight reduction, less alcohol in the evening, side sleeping, nasal treatment and, where indicated, CPAP or surgery through the sleep team.
When to ask for a specialist opinion
- Your partner reports loud snoring or pauses in your breathing
- You wake unrefreshed, with headaches, or are sleepy during the day
- You have been diagnosed with sleep apnoea and cannot get on with CPAP
- You grind your teeth at night and are breaking fillings or crowns
- You drive or operate machinery and find yourself dozing
Travelling to Türkiye for this care
A custom appliance can be scanned and fitted within about 5 to 7 days, and a sleep study can be arranged in the same visit. The difficulty is what follows: the device is advanced gradually over 2 to 3 months and its effect should be verified with a repeat study, so you need a dentist or sleep clinic at home willing to continue the adjustment. Bring any existing sleep study report. Untreated severe sleepiness is a safety issue that your own doctor should address without delay.
Send your reports, scans and a short history and a Clinic-Y coordinator replies within 24 hours with suitable teams and written, all-inclusive proposals side by side. Reviewing your case is free.
الأسئلة المتكررة
Will a mouthpiece cure my sleep apnoea?
It controls it while worn, in many people with mild to moderate disease. It does not cure it, and results vary, which is why a follow-up study is advised.
What are the side effects?
Jaw or tooth tenderness in the morning, excess saliva or dry mouth early on, and small permanent bite changes after years of use.
Can I get a device just for snoring without tests?
Loud snoring with witnessed pauses or daytime sleepiness should be tested first, because treating the noise can mask untreated apnoea.
Is it more comfortable than CPAP?
Many people find it easier to travel with and to tolerate, which is why usage tends to be better, even though CPAP is more powerful.