If you’re tired despite a full night’s sleep, snoring loudly enough to wake your partner, or waking through the night gasping for breath, you may be dealing with sleep apnoea, a more common condition than most people realise.
At Bellevue Hill Dental, we provide custom-fitted dental appliances for patients with snoring and mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). These devices are worn during sleep and gently reposition your jaw to help keep your airway open. For many patients, they are a comfortable, portable, and effective alternative to a CPAP machine, and for patients who have tried CPAP and could not stick with it, they often work where the mask did not.
A formal sleep study diagnosis is needed before we can fit a sleep appliance. If you haven’t had one, your GP can arrange a referral.
What is obstructive sleep apnoea?
Obstructive sleep apnoea is a condition where the soft tissues of the throat relax during sleep and partially or fully block the airway. This causes breathing to stop repeatedly throughout the night, sometimes hundreds of times, reducing blood oxygen levels and fragmenting sleep.
Common signs of OSA include loud, disruptive snoring, witnessed breathing pauses, waking with a dry mouth or headache, daytime sleepiness, and difficulty concentrating. A formal diagnosis requires a sleep study arranged through your GP or a sleep physician.
|
OSA severity |
AHI (apnoea-hypopnoea index) |
Typical management |
|---|---|---|
|
Mild |
5–15 events per hour |
Dental appliance or positional therapy |
|
Moderate |
15–30 events per hour |
Dental appliance or CPAP |
|
Severe |
30+ events per hour |
CPAP is first-line; dental appliance if CPAP intolerant |
How does a dental sleep appliance work?
A mandibular advancement device (MAD) is a custom-fitted oral appliance that holds the lower jaw slightly forward during sleep. This forward positioning prevents the tongue and soft palate from collapsing into the throat, maintaining a clear airway.
MADs are:
- Custom-fitted to your teeth by your dentist — not an over-the-counter product
- Adjustable — the degree of mandibular advancement can be titrated over time to optimise effect
- Worn only during sleep
- Generally well-tolerated — most patients adapt within 2–4 weeks
Dental appliance vs CPAP — how do they compare?
|
Factor |
Dental MAD |
CPAP |
|---|---|---|
|
How it works |
Repositions the jaw to open the airway |
Air pressure delivered via mask keeps the airway open |
|
Effectiveness |
Highly effective for mild–moderate OSA |
Most effective treatment for all severity levels |
|
Compliance |
High — easy to use; portable; no mask or noise |
Moderate — some patients cannot tolerate mask |
|
Portability |
Excellent — small, no power required |
Requires machine and power source |
|
Best for |
Mild–moderate OSA; CPAP-intolerant patients |
Severe OSA; first-line for all severities |
The treatment pathway
Step 1 — Diagnosis
A formal diagnosis from a sleep study is required before dental appliance therapy can be recommended. If you have not had a sleep study, speak with your GP about a referral. Home sleep testing kits are available and increasingly used as a first step.
Step 2 — Dental assessment
Your dentist assesses your teeth, jaw joints (TMJ), and bite to confirm suitability for a dental appliance. Patients with significant TMJ dysfunction, insufficient teeth to anchor the appliance, or certain bite patterns may not be suitable.
Step 3 — Appliance fabrication
Impressions (or a digital scan) of your upper and lower teeth are taken. The custom appliance is fabricated by a specialist dental laboratory. At the fitting appointment, the device is adjusted for fit and initial advancement position.
Step 4 — Titration and review
Over the following weeks, the advancement position is gradually increased until symptoms are controlled. A follow-up sleep study is often recommended to confirm treatment effectiveness.
Cost of dental sleep appliances in Sydney
The cost of dental appliance therapy varies depending on the type of appliance and how complex your case is. In general:
- A custom mandibular advancement device is the main cost. It’s lab-fabricated to your specifications and includes the fitting and initial adjustments
- The dental assessment is a separate consultation fee
- Review and adjustment appointments during the titration period are typically charged per visit
Some private health funds cover dental sleep appliances under their major dental extras. A referral letter from your GP or sleep physician may help support your claim. We can provide a tailored quote at your assessment, and if ever you need help spreading the payment cost, Bellevue Hill Dental also offers Afterpay.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is sleep apnoea and how does it interrupt breathing?
It’s a disorder where the upper airway becomes blocked during sleep, causing repeated pauses in breathing. This often leads to loud snoring and daytime tiredness.
Why is prompt care important?
Untreated sleep apnoea is linked on the page with increased risks such as high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke, so timely assessment is recommended.
What signs should prompt a dental sleep assessment?
Common signs listed include loud snoring, disrupted sleep, frequent waking, gasping/choking at night, dry mouth or morning headaches, daytime fatigue, poor concentration and irritability.
How common is sleep apnoea in Australia?
The page cites the Sleep Health Foundation and notes that more than 1.5 million Australians are affected, with many unaware until a partner notices.
How can the dental team help if I suspect sleep apnoea?
Bellevue Hill Dental offers sleep apnoea and snoring therapy and invites patients who suspect they have the condition to discuss diagnosis pathways and options.
What treatment approach do you use?
The clinic highlights a custom medical mouthguard—the Oventus Clearway Device™ (O2Vent®)—as part of therapy for suitable patients.
How does the O2Vent® device work?
It’s a lightweight, 3D-made device designed to help airflow reach the back of the throat by bypassing nasal, soft-palate and tongue obstructions.
Can it be used alongside CPAP if needed?
Yes. The page notes the O2Vent® can connect with a CPAP machine when a more advanced setup is required.
Is it practical for day-to-day life or travel?
The clinic describes it as an everyday, transportable solution intended to be convenient to use.
Do you also help with primary snoring (without confirmed OSA)?
Yes—Bellevue Hill Dental provides snoring therapy as well as sleep apnoea therapy; suitability is assessed during consultation.
I’m not sure if I have sleep apnoea—what should I do first?
Book a consult to discuss symptoms and next steps toward accurate diagnosis and appropriate management options.
Where can I read more about your approach?
The page links to a Daily Telegraph interview with Dr David Digges discussing their device-based therapy.
Bellevue Hill Dental offers Sleep Apnoea Therapy in Sydney, focusing on treating the condition through dental appliances. Sleep apnoea is a sleep disorder where the upper airway becomes obstructed during sleep, leading to symptoms like loud snoring, daytime fatigue, and an increased risk of serious health issues like high blood pressure and stroke. The clinic’s treatment approach features the innovative Oventus Clearway Device™ (O2VentR), a custom-made, 3D lightweight titanium mouthguard designed to bypass airway obstructions and improve oxygen flow, which can be used alone or connected to a CPAP machine for advanced treatment.
The clinic is located in Bellevue Hill and serves the wider Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, including Bondi, Bronte, Clovelly, Rose Bay, Tamarama, Waverley, Double Bay, and Paddington. They also specifically cater to communities like Bondi Beach, North Bondi, Queens Park, Dover Heights, and Bondi Junction.