Oral Appliance Therapy

A Comfortable, CPAP-Free Way to Treat Sleep Apnea

Oral appliance therapy (OAT) is a proven, first-line treatment for mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and for patients with severe OSA who cannot tolerate a CPAP machine. Instead of a mask, hose, and bedside pump, you wear a small, custom-fitted device that looks much like a sports mouthguard or a retainer while you sleep. As a Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine, Dr. Pooja Goel has advanced training in fitting these appliances for patients throughout Santa Clara.

How Oral Appliance Therapy Works

Most oral appliances are mandibular advancement devices (MADs). They gently hold your lower jaw and tongue slightly forward while you sleep, which keeps the soft tissues at the back of your throat from collapsing and blocking your airway. By keeping the airway open, the device reduces or eliminates the repeated breathing pauses, snoring, and oxygen drops that define sleep apnea — so you and your partner sleep better.

Why Patients Choose an Oral Appliance

• Quiet and comfortable — no motor, no mask, no hose.
• Small and portable — easy to travel with and simple to clean.
• Custom-made — precisely fitted to your teeth and bite for a secure, comfortable feel.
• Effective — a recognized treatment for snoring and mild-to-moderate OSA, and an alternative for those who can't wear CPAP.

What to Expect

Treatment begins with a consultation and a review of your sleep history and any sleep-study results. If OSA has not yet been diagnosed, Dr. Goel will coordinate testing with a sleep physician. Once therapy is appropriate, we take precise digital impressions and your custom appliance is fabricated. At delivery we fine-tune the fit, and over follow-up visits we adjust the jaw position to find the setting that controls your apnea while keeping you comfortable.

Is Oral Appliance Therapy Right for You?

Oral appliance therapy is often ideal for patients with snoring, mild to moderate sleep apnea, or CPAP intolerance. The best way to find out is a conversation. Call (408) 241-6501 or (408) 241-6502 to schedule your consultation with Dr. Goel.

Caring for Your Oral Appliance

A custom appliance is easy to live with. Rinse and brush it each morning, let it air-dry, and keep it in its case. We'll see you for periodic check-ins to keep the fit comfortable and confirm the therapy is working — many patients follow up with a repeat sleep study to measure just how much their sleep has improved.