A small, custom-fitted oral appliance treats snoring and sleep apnea while you sleep. It is a comfortable, FDA-cleared alternative to the CPAP machine, with no mask and no hose.
FDA-Approved Devices
Cleared for snoring & sleep apnea
Covered by Insurance
Most medical plans & Medicare
A CPAP Alternative
No mask, hose, or machine
Free Consultations
No cost, no obligation
Tell us what is keeping you up at night, and we will point you to the right next step.
Understanding Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is more common than most people think. An estimated 1 in 5 adults has it, and most have never been diagnosed. It happens when the soft tissue at the back of the throat relaxes during sleep and blocks the airway, which causes you to stop breathing for short periods. This can happen hundreds of times a night.
Each pause nudges your brain awake just enough to restart your breathing. You almost never remember it, but it pulls you out of deep sleep again and again. That is why you can spend a full night in bed and still wake up tired, and why untreated sleep apnea puts ongoing strain on your heart and overall health.
The good news is that it is very treatable, often with a small device you wear only while you sleep.
What untreated apnea looks like
Why It Matters
Left untreated, sleep apnea does more than make you tired. Over time it raises the risk of several serious health problems. Treatment can help protect against all of them.
The repeated drops in oxygen put extra strain on your heart and blood vessels, which raises the risk of heart attack, stroke, and irregular heartbeat.
Untreated apnea is a leading cause of high blood pressure that is hard to control. Treating the apnea often helps bring it down.
Broken sleep disrupts the hormones that manage blood sugar and appetite, which makes diabetes and weight harder to control.
Without enough deep sleep, the brain cannot reset properly. Brain fog, forgetfulness, and trouble focusing are common early signs.
Long-term exhaustion takes a real toll on mood and patience, and is closely linked with low mood and anxiety.
Feeling sleepy at your desk, or at the wheel, is a serious safety risk. Drowsy driving causes thousands of crashes every year.
Not sure whether your symptoms are worth worrying about? Our short quiz gives you a clear answer in about two minutes.
Take the Free Risk QuizCommon Symptoms
Most people never notice their own sleep apnea, because it happens while they are asleep. They only feel the effects during the day. If a few of these sound familiar, it is worth a conversation.
While you sleep
During the day
Recognize three or more? You do not have to guess. Our quick risk quiz gives you a clear answer in about two minutes.
Check My Risk Now2-Minute Sleep Apnea Risk Quiz
Tick everything that sounds like you. There are no wrong answers. This is a simple, private way to understand your risk and decide whether a free consultation is worth your time. Nothing is stored or shared.
The Option
For snoring and mild to moderate sleep apnea, you do not always need a machine on your nightstand. A custom oral appliance does the job quietly, and most people find it easy to keep wearing. There are two main types, and at your consultation we recommend the one best suited to you.
The right fit for most patients
A slim, two-part device that gently holds your lower jaw forward by a few millimeters, which keeps the airway open while you sleep. It is adjustable, so we can fine-tune it to the position where you breathe most easily.
A good option for specific needs
Instead of moving the jaw, this device gently holds the tongue forward so it cannot fall back and block the airway. It is a useful alternative for patients with certain dental or jaw needs, or who prefer not to reposition the jaw.
Why Patients Choose It
Beyond treating your sleep apnea, an oral appliance fits easily into everyday life. Patients often notice more energy and sharper focus through the day once they are sleeping properly again.
Far easier to tolerate than a CPAP mask. Most people adjust within a week or two.
Packs into a small case, so it travels easily wherever you go.
About the size and weight of a sports mouthguard. You barely notice it.
No motor and no power needed. It keeps working even in a power cut.
Completely silent. No hum or airflow to disturb you or your partner.
No filters, tubing, or distilled water. Just rinse and brush it each morning.
Oral Appliance vs. CPAP
CPAP works well for the people who can stick with it. For everyone else, an oral appliance is a far easier way to treat snoring and sleep apnea, night after night.
Already have a CPAP and cannot get on with it? Ask us about switching. We will review your diagnosis and let you know if an appliance is right for you.
The Appliances We Fit
We work with Glidewell, one of the most respected dental labs in the country, to choose the appliance that suits you best. Here are some of the FDA-cleared devices we prescribe.
3D-printed for a precise fit and extra room for your tongue.
The trusted classic, with more than 400,000 fitted to date.
A micro-adjustable hinge for fine-tuned, comfortable positioning.
Metal-free, with a wide and easy range of adjustment.
A low-profile design built for all-night comfort.
Smooth, precise advancement in tiny increments.
Elastic connectors let your jaw move naturally side to side.
A hinged design that lets your jaw open and move freely.
Not sure which one is right for you? That is exactly what your free consultation is for. We match the appliance to your bite, your comfort, and the way you sleep.
Custom-Fitted in Our Office
Our sleep apnea dentists use a variety of oral appliances that are custom-fitted to help you sleep soundly and reduce the effects of snoring and other apnea symptoms.
The fit is everything. A device that sits perfectly is the one you will actually wear every night, so we start with a precise digital scan using our iTero scanner. In a few minutes we capture a detailed 3D model of your teeth, with no goopy molds, and use it to build an appliance shaped to your mouth alone.
Your Path to Better Sleep
From your first visit to a confirmed result, here is exactly how treatment works, and what to expect at each stage.
We sit down and listen, to you and, if they are affected, your partner. We review your symptoms and risk, check your airway and bite, and explain your options in plain language. There is no cost, no pressure, and no obligation.
Cost & Insurance
Insurance plans vary widely, but our experienced team has found that most insurance companies cover a significant amount of the cost of treatment. If coverage is available for oral appliances, it will come from your medical insurance carrier, as most dental insurance companies do not cover treatment of obstructive sleep apnea.
Our patients tell us it is well worth the investment of their time and money to treat their sleep apnea, because of the improved quality of life they experience. We accept most insurance plans and offer financing, including CareCredit, for any out-of-pocket cost.
Your free consultation includes
A full symptom and airway review, your questions answered, and a clear plan. At no cost, and with no pressure to proceed.
Oral appliance therapy is a medical treatment, so it is usually covered by medical insurance and Medicare, not dental. We handle the paperwork for you.
Before you commit to anything, we verify your coverage with your carrier and tell you exactly what to expect, with no surprise bills.
For any out-of-pocket balance, CareCredit and other flexible payment plans let you spread the cost into manageable monthly payments.
Plain answers from our Peterborough team: no jargon, no pressure.
Not necessarily. Plenty of people snore without having sleep apnea. But snoring is a sign that your airway is narrowing during sleep, which is also what causes apnea, so it is worth checking. Either way, the custom oral appliance we use treats both snoring and sleep apnea by gently holding the airway open.
Call and you'll reach a real person on our team: no phone tree, no hold music. We'd genuinely love to help.
(603) 924-3664Rather write to us? Contact us
From Our Sleep Dentist
Practical, plain-English articles from Dr. Muhammad Abdel-Rahim to help you understand snoring, sleep apnea, and the options that can finally get you a good night of rest.
Sleep HealthIf you are spending eight hours in bed and still dragging through the day, your nights may be far more broken than you realise. Here is what is quietly happening while you sleep, and how to fix it.
SnoringThat nightly rumble can be a lot more than a nuisance for your partner. Often it is an early warning sign from your airway that is well worth paying attention to.
CPAP AlternativesIf your CPAP is gathering dust on the nightstand, you are far from alone, and you are not out of options. A small custom appliance is changing the game for people who simply could not get on with the mask.
Your HealthTreating sleep apnea can do far more than stop the snoring. For many of my patients, it also helps bring stubborn, hard-to-control blood pressure back down.
Buyer's GuideThose cheap boil-and-bite devices are tempting, and the marketing is everywhere. Here is what they can and cannot do, and the moment they start doing real harm to your teeth and jaw.
Sleep ScienceEvery pause in your breathing sends a small alarm through your body, again and again until morning. Here is the chain reaction behind the fatigue, and why treating it matters more than most people think.
Schedule Your Complimentary
Dr. Abdel-Rahim feels so strongly that knowledge and action can improve and save lives that he is offering a no-cost, individual, 30-minute consultation on sleep breathing disorders. Whether it is loud snoring or other sleep apnea symptoms, make sure you are not at risk for this very treatable, potentially life-threatening condition. Learn more about sleep apnea and get all of your questions answered. We have a limited number of consultation times available, so schedule yours as soon as possible.
Peterborough Family Dental & Implant Center · Peterborough, NH
(603) 924-3664Start sleeping better
Tell us a little about what is keeping you up, and we will be in touch the same business day to arrange a time that suits. No cost, no pressure, no obligation.
