How We Diagnose Sleep Apnoea — Take-Home Sleep Study

The data is then analysed by a sleep physician, who provides a diagnostic report. If sleep apnoea is confirmed, the severity is classified — mild, moderate, or severe — which guides the treatment recommendation.

Home sleep studies are accurate, convenient, and considerably less expensive than an in-lab study. They are also far more representative of your typical sleep, since you're in your own environment rather than a clinical setting.

Treatment — Custom Oral Appliances

For patients with snoring or mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnoea, a custom-made oral sleep appliance is often the most effective and most comfortable treatment available — and for many patients, it's life-changing.

How it works

The most widely used type is a mandibular advancement device (MAD) — an appliance similar in appearance to a mouthguard that fits over both upper and lower teeth. It works by gently holding the lower jaw slightly forward during sleep, which opens the airway and prevents the soft tissue collapse that causes snoring and breathing pauses.

Because it's custom-made from precise impressions of your own teeth, it fits comfortably and securely — a significant difference from over-the-counter devices, which are bulky, imprecise, and often abandoned within weeks.

Who it suits

Custom oral appliances are appropriate for:

• Snorers without diagnosed apnoea
• Patients with mild to moderate OSA
• Patients who have tried CPAP and found it intolerable
• Patients who travel frequently and need a portable alternative to CPAP
• Patients with mild apnoea who want a less intrusive solution

For severe OSA, CPAP therapy remains the gold standard — but oral appliances can be used alongside CPAP in some cases, or as an alternative where CPAP compliance is genuinely poor.

The advantages of oral appliance therapy

Silent and unobtrusive — no mask, no machine, no noise

• Small and portable — fits in a pocket, ideal for travel
• High compliance — patients wear them consistently because they're comfortable
• No power source required
• Easy to maintain

CPAP vs Oral Appliances — Which Is Right for You?

CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) is the most effective treatment for severe OSA — it delivers a continuous stream of pressurised air through a mask to keep the airway open throughout the night. For patients with severe apnoea, it's typically the first recommendation.

However, CPAP compliance is a significant clinical challenge. Many patients find the mask uncomfortable, claustrophobic, or disruptive — and studies consistently show that a meaningful proportion of CPAP users either abandon it or use it inconsistently, leaving their apnoea undertreated.

For mild to moderate OSA, custom oral appliances have been shown to achieve comparable clinical outcomes to CPAP — with substantially better compliance. A treatment that's comfortable enough to actually be used every night outperforms a theoretically superior treatment that sits in the bedside drawer.

We work collaboratively with sleep physicians and can communicate with your GP or respiratory physician to ensure your treatment is coordinated and appropriate for your specific diagnosis.

What Does the Process Involve?

Step 1 — Consultation
You come in to discuss your symptoms. We review your sleep history, assess your teeth, jaw, and airway, and determine whether a home sleep study is appropriate or whether a referral to a sleep physician is the better starting point.

Step 2 — Home Sleep Study
If indicated, we coordinate a home sleep apnoea test. You collect the device from a local clinic, use it at home overnight, and return it the next day. Results are typically available within one to two weeks.

Step 3 — Review and Treatment Planning
Once your results are in, we review the findings with you and discuss your treatment options. If a custom oral appliance is appropriate, impressions or digital scans of your teeth are taken.

Step 4 — Appliance Fitting
Your custom appliance is made and fitted at your next appointment. We make any adjustments needed for comfort and show you how to use and care for it. Most patients adapt within the first week or two of wearing it.

Step 5 — Follow-up
We monitor your progress and can make incremental adjustments to the appliance to optimise its effectiveness over time. For patients where a follow-up sleep study is warranted to confirm treatment efficacy, this can also be coordinated.

Caring for Your Sleep Appliance

With proper care, a custom sleep appliance typically lasts 3–5 years. To keep it in good condition:

• Rinse it with cold water before and after use
• Clean it daily with a soft toothbrush and mild soap — avoid toothpaste, which is abrasive
• Store it in its protective case when not in use, away from heat
• Bring it to your regular dental appointments so we can check its condition and fit