Clear, practical information about sleep apnea, oral appliance therapy, CPAP alternatives, and treatment decisions.
Patient resource center
Practical guidance for appointments and ongoing oral appliance care. Your individualized delivery instructions take priority; call us if an appliance is painful, damaged, or no longer fits.
Find help: Preparing for your visit · Daily care · Soreness and fit problems · Adjustments and follow-up
New patients and consultation
Call (623) 566-1310 for intake instructions. Bring your sleep-study report, referral or prescription if available, medications, medical-insurance card, and any current PAP or oral appliance. What to expect at the consultation. Ask us for a secure way to provide medical records; do not send them through ordinary email or the general inquiry form.
Cleaning and daily care
Follow the specific manufacturer and delivery instructions for your appliance. Rinse and clean it after use, let it dry, and store it in its case. Avoid hot water or harsh cleaners unless its instructions permit them. Bring it to follow-up visits.
Morning bite care
A morning bite guide or gentle jaw exercises may be prescribed to help your bite return to its usual position. Follow the routine taught for you. AADSM patient jaw exercises and side-effect guidance.
Teeth or jaw soreness
Mild initial discomfort can occur, but call if pain persists, worsens, or affects chewing. We may need to examine your teeth, bite, jaw joints, and adjustment schedule.
Too tight or too loose
Do not force a tight appliance, grind it down, or advance it beyond your instructions. Call for a fit check if it no longer seats comfortably or loses retention.
Lost or damaged appliance
Do not wear a cracked or broken appliance or repair it yourself. Call us promptly. If treating diagnosed OSA, ask your medical clinician how to maintain treatment while a replacement is arranged.
Traveling with an appliance
Pack it in its case in your carry-on with cleaning supplies and your morning bite guide if prescribed. Read the travel guide.
Adjustment and titration
Make gradual changes only as instructed, and note comfort, symptoms, and side effects. See the full treatment pathway.
Follow-up and efficacy testing
Feeling better or snoring less does not prove OSA is controlled. Your medical provider should coordinate an appropriate efficacy assessment after titration. How we check the response.
Long-term care
Periodic review checks appliance wear, teeth, restorations, bite, jaw joints, symptoms, and any need for medical reassessment.
Manufacturer instructions
Your specific model and its patient instructions will be provided when the appliance is selected and delivered. Call us if your instructions are missing or you need help with your specific appliance.
Frequently asked questions
Browse the FAQ, learn about individualized appliance selection, or request a consultation.
Start with the clinical evidence
Read our patient-friendly overview of professional guidance on custom oral appliance therapy, treatment effectiveness, follow-up testing, and dental monitoring.
Patient resources
Use these trusted resources to learn about sleep apnea, diagnosis, and oral appliance therapy. External AADSM resources open in a new tab.
Testing & Diagnosis
Understand how a medical diagnosis is established and how we can help you navigate the process.
Health Risks of OSA
Review the AADSM patient fact sheet about health concerns associated with obstructive sleep apnea.
OAT Patient Quiz
Explore whether oral appliance therapy may be worth discussing with your medical and dental providers.
Clinical Evidence
Read a patient-friendly overview of guidelines, follow-up testing, and long-term dental monitoring.
Start with your question
Choose the path that matches where you are in your sleep apnea care.
Is an oral appliance right for me?
Review CPAP difficulties, sleep-study status, jaw concerns, and candidacy.
CPAP is not working for me
Learn when to discuss a mask-free option with your sleep clinician.
How does treatment work?
Understand a custom titratable appliance, adjustment, efficacy testing, and dental follow-up.
Where do I start?
Find the next step whether you have a sleep study or have not yet been tested.
Will medical insurance help?
See how benefit investigation, documentation, and patient cost estimates are handled.
Latest articles
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Can Teeth Grinding Be a Clue to Sleep Apnea? What the Newest Research Says
Can nighttime grinding or clenching be related to obstructive sleep apnea? See what recent research says about bruxism, airway responses, and when sleep testing may be appropriate.
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Custom Oral Appliance vs. Over-the-Counter Snoring Mouthguard: What’s the Difference?
A store-bought snoring mouthguard may seem like a quick way to quiet the night. A custom oral appliance involves a different process: evaluation, individualized fit, adjustment, and follow-up. The distinction matters most when snoring could be a sign of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). First, know what you are treating Snoring can occur alone or with…
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Can a Sleep Apnea Appliance Change Your Bite?
Bite changes can happen with long-term oral appliance therapy. Learn how careful fitting, morning guidance, and dental follow-up help manage the risk.
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What If I Have TMJ Problems? Oral Appliance Therapy and Jaw Comfort
TMJ symptoms do not automatically rule out a sleep apnea oral appliance. Learn how a careful jaw evaluation, gradual adjustment, and follow-up guide treatment.
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Traveling With Sleep Apnea: CPAP and Oral Appliance Options
Traveling with sleep apnea? Compare practical CPAP and oral appliance considerations, learn when a travel-friendly device may fit your plan, and use a simple packing checklist.
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Home Sleep Testing: What Patients Should Know
Home sleep apnea tests now come in several portable forms and are medically accepted for selected adults. Learn how they work, when a lab study is needed, and what insurance may require.
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What Happens During an Oral Appliance Consultation?
Learn what to bring, what Dr. Dawson evaluates, how benefits and records are handled, and what happens after an oral appliance consultation.
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Can an Oral Appliance Treat Severe Sleep Apnea?
Severe sleep apnea does not automatically rule out a custom oral appliance. Learn when it may be considered, why CPAP remains the primary treatment, and how follow-up testing verifies the result.
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Snoring vs. Sleep Apnea: Can an Oral Appliance Help?
Snoring and sleep apnea are not the same. Learn when a custom anti-snoring oral appliance can help primary snoring and why a medical evaluation matters.