Snoring happens when the soft tissue at the back of the throat relaxes in sleep and vibrates as air squeezes past. In obstructive sleep apnea the airway narrows further or closes for a few seconds at a time, many times a night, so sleep keeps breaking even when you do not wake up.
A custom oral appliance, called a mandibular advancement device, is a thin pair of trays worn over the teeth at night. It holds the lower jaw slightly forward, which brings the tongue forward with it and keeps the airway more open. It is quiet, needs no power and fits in a pocket, so many people use it at home and on trips.
At The Smile Super Speciality Dental Clinic, in Kondapur, Hyderabad and in Vizag since 1997, a sleep appliance costs ₹25,000 to ₹60,000. We make it after a sleep study and work with your sleep doctor, who confirms how well it is working. You get the exact figure in a written plan after a ₹500 consultation.
Get Your General Answers
What patients usually tell us
- "My wife sleeps in the other room because of my snoring."
- "My husband says I stop breathing and then gasp."
- "I sleep eight hours and still wake up tired, with a dry mouth."
- "I nod off in afternoon meetings."
- "The sleep doctor gave me a CPAP and I could not keep the mask on."
- "I travel every month and do not want to carry a machine."
An oral appliance may suit you if
- A sleep study shows mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea, or simple snoring with no apnea.
- You have tried CPAP and cannot use it most nights, or your sleep doctor has suggested an appliance.
- You want something for travel alongside your CPAP at home.
- You have enough healthy teeth, upper and lower, to hold the trays.
Honest limits
- We need a diagnosis first. Loud snoring can be harmless or it can be sleep apnea, and only a sleep study tells them apart. If you have not had one, we ask your doctor or a sleep clinic to do it before we make anything.
- Severe sleep apnea usually needs CPAP. An appliance is a good first choice for mild to moderate cases. In severe cases it is used only if CPAP truly does not work for you, and only with your sleep doctor's agreement.
- It is not for children. A child who snores most nights should see the paediatrician or an ENT first, because large tonsils and adenoids are the usual cause. When a narrow upper jaw is part of it, that is jaw growth treatment for children, not a sleep appliance.
- Teeth and gums come first. Loose teeth or active gum disease cannot hold the trays, so we treat those first (gum treatment). With very few teeth, or full dentures, an appliance is usually not possible.
- A sore jaw joint needs care first. If your jaw already hurts or locks, we settle that before moving the jaw forward at night (see TMJ treatment).
- It treats, it does not cure. The appliance works on the nights you wear it. Weight, alcohol at night and sleeping on your back also matter, and we say so plainly.
Step 1: the first visit (₹500 consultation)
- We listen first: how you sleep, what your partner notices, how you feel in the day, what you have already tried.
- We read your sleep study report. If you do not have one, we tell you where to get it and wait for it before making anything.
- We check the teeth, gums, bite and jaw joints, and how far your jaw moves forward comfortably.
- An iTero 3D scan records your teeth and bite, with no moulds and no radiation.
Step 2: a written plan
It says which appliance suits you, why, what it costs and how many visits it takes. You take it home and share it with your sleep doctor. Nothing is decided in the chair.
Step 3: making and fitting (about 1 to 2 weeks)
- The appliance is made from your scan, with the jaw recorded in a comfortable starting position.
- At the fitting we check the grip and comfort, and show you how to put it in, take it out and clean it.
Step 4: tuning over the next weeks
- The jaw position is moved forward in small steps over a few weeks until snoring settles and the jaw stays comfortable.
- Review at 2 to 4 weeks, then as needed. Once the setting is right, your sleep doctor may repeat the sleep study to confirm it is working.
The first nights
The trays feel strange for a few nights. Extra saliva and a little jaw or tooth stiffness in the morning are common; the stiffness usually fades within minutes of taking the appliance out. Most people are used to it within 1 to 2 weeks.
When you notice a difference
Partners often hear less snoring within the first week. Feeling more rested in the day usually takes a few weeks, as the setting is tuned. If it is uncomfortable, tell us: a small adjustment usually fixes it.
Looking after it
- Brush it every morning with a soft brush and cool or lukewarm water, never hot water, which can warp it. Keep it in its case in the day.
- Bring it to your 6 monthly check so we can look at the fit and the wear.
- Most appliances last about 3 to 5 years. Heavy grinding can wear them sooner.
- Over years, a small change in how the back teeth meet is possible with any appliance that moves the jaw. We check your bite at each visit and show you a short morning exercise to help.
- Keep seeing your sleep doctor as they advise.
Call us if
- The appliance cracks, feels loose or stops fitting after a dental treatment.
- Your jaw aches through the day, not just for a few minutes in the morning.
- Snoring or daytime tiredness comes back.
Sleep appliance: ₹25,000 to ₹60,000
| Item | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Consultation with iTero 3D scan and written plan | ₹500 | First visit, both clinics |
| Custom oral appliance (mandibular advancement device) | ₹25,000 to ₹60,000 | The fitting and tuning visits are listed in your written plan |
| Sleep study | Separate | Arranged by your sleep doctor or a sleep clinic, not by us |
What moves the price:
- Appliance type: a simpler appliance set at one jaw position sits at the lower end; a two-piece appliance that can be adjusted forward in small steps sits at the upper end. The adjustable kind is often the better choice when sleep apnea is diagnosed, because the setting can be tuned.
- Material and build: how the trays are made and how long they are expected to last.
- Work needed first: fillings, gum treatment or jaw care are priced separately in the same written plan.
When plain snoring with no apnea is the problem, the simpler appliance often does the job, and we say so. Nothing is added on the day that is not in the plan.
The sleep treatment that helps most is the one you wear every night
CPAP is the strongest treatment for sleep apnea, and for severe cases it is the right one. But it only works on the nights it is used, and many people find the mask, the air pressure or the noise hard to live with. A well-fitted oral appliance is quieter, smaller and easier to travel with, so some people who struggle with CPAP manage to wear it every night. For mild to moderate sleep apnea, that steady use can matter more than which device is stronger on paper.
The decision is made with your sleep doctor, not instead of them. Dr. Rajesh Kumar Y, MDS Orthodontics and Facial Orthopedist, looks at how the jaws, the tongue and the airway sit together, which is the same thinking behind his work on how your jaw affects your breathing in children and adults.
Sleep appliance during an India visit
Bring your sleep study report and, if you use one, your CPAP settings. Making and fitting takes 2 to 3 visits over 2 to 3 weeks, which fits most India trips. Send the report on WhatsApp before you book flights, so we can tell you whether an appliance suits you and plan the visits around your dates. Later adjustments can be done on your next visit, or we give written notes for a dentist at home. More in our guide to dental treatment on an India visit.
Live outside India? See how to plan your treatment from home →
How much does a sleep apnea appliance cost in Kondapur and Vizag?
At The Smile Super Speciality Dental Clinic a custom sleep appliance costs ₹25,000 to ₹60,000, depending on the appliance type. The ₹500 consultation is separate, and so is the sleep study, which your sleep doctor arranges. The exact price is in your written plan.
Do I need a sleep study first?
Yes. Snoring can be harmless or a sign of sleep apnea, and only a sleep study tells them apart. Your doctor or a sleep clinic does the study and the diagnosis; we make and fit the appliance they recommend.
Will an oral appliance stop my snoring?
For most people it cuts snoring a lot, and partners often notice within the first week. Whether it stops completely depends on the cause and how severe it is, which is why the setting is tuned over a few weeks.
Can an oral appliance replace my CPAP?
For mild to moderate sleep apnea it often can, with your sleep doctor's agreement. For severe sleep apnea CPAP stays the main treatment, and an appliance is used only if CPAP truly does not work for you, or as a travel backup.
Is it uncomfortable to sleep with?
It feels strange for the first few nights, with some extra saliva and mild jaw stiffness in the morning. Most people are used to it within 1 to 2 weeks. If it still bothers you, we adjust it.
Can it change my bite?
Over years, small changes in how the teeth meet can happen with any appliance that moves the jaw, and they are usually minor. We check your bite at every visit and show you a short morning exercise that helps.
How long does a sleep appliance last?
Usually about 3 to 5 years with good care. Heavy grinding can wear it sooner. We check it at your 6 monthly visit.
Who makes sleep appliances, and where?
Dr. Rajesh Kumar Y, MDS Orthodontics, Facial Orthopedist and Fellow of Implantology (Germany), plans sleep appliance cases at both branches, with Dr. Varsha Reddy, Dental Surgeon. You can visit Smile Dental Clinic Kondapur on Masjid Banda Road, Hyderabad, or Smile Dental Clinic Vizag at SLN Towers, Maharani Peta, Visakhapatnam.
