Mandibular Advancement Splint for Snoring
A custom oral appliance that helps quieten snoring by holding your jaw in a better position while you sleep.
What Is a Mandibular Advancement Splint for Snoring?
A mandibular advancement splint, or MAS, is a custom-made oral appliance you wear only while you sleep. It fits over your upper and lower teeth, a little like a thin retainer, and gently holds your lower jaw slightly forward through the night.
That small change in jaw position helps move the tongue and soft tissues away from the back of your throat. With more room for air to pass, the soft tissue vibration that causes snoring has less chance to happen.
At Dental Sleep Professionals, every snoring appliance is made for your individual mouth and bite, then adjusted and reviewed until it sits comfortably. It is not a one-size boil-and-bite device from a chemist.
Why You Snore
Snoring starts in the airway. As you drift into sleep, the muscles around your throat, tongue and soft palate relax. For many people that relaxation narrows the airway.
When air has to squeeze through a smaller space, the surrounding soft tissue flutters and vibrates. That vibration is the sound you (or the person next to you) hear as snoring.
The narrower the airway and the more the tissue vibrates, the louder the snoring tends to be. A MAS works at the source of that problem by supporting the jaw, and with it the tongue, in a more open position overnight.
How a MAS Reduces Snoring
A snoring splint works by gently advancing your lower jaw while you sleep. Holding the jaw forward can help:
- Open up the space at the back of your throat
- Steady the tongue and soft tissues so they vibrate less
- Reduce the airflow turbulence that produces the snoring sound
- Keep airflow smoother and quieter through the night
- Give your partner an undisturbed night’s sleep too
Unlike a CPAP machine, a MAS does not pump air into your airway. There is no mask, no hose, no motor and no power point. It simply changes the position of your jaw, tongue and surrounding tissue so there is more room for air to move quietly.
That is why a custom oral appliance is often considered first for simple snoring, and for people who want something small, quiet and easy to travel with.
Is a Snoring Splint Right for You?
A mandibular advancement splint for snoring may suit you if you:
- Snore regularly and want a long-term fix rather than a nightly band-aid
- Share a bed and your snoring is disturbing your partner’s sleep
- Have tried strips, sprays or pillows without lasting results
- Want a discreet, travel-friendly device with no machine or power source
- Prefer a custom appliance over an over-the-counter mouthguard
A MAS is not right for everyone, and snoring is not always harmless. Before recommending treatment, Dr Joachim Ngiam reviews your symptoms, any sleep study results, your dental health, jaw comfort and goals, and checks whether sleep apnoea needs to be ruled out first. Appointments are available at clinics across NSW and Queensland.
What Our Patients Say
Why Choose Dental Sleep Professionals for Snoring Treatment
Snoring treatment is all Dr Joachim Ngiam and the team do. This is a dedicated dental sleep medicine practice, not a general dental clinic offering appliances on the side.
- Dr Joachim Ngiam holds a PhD from the University of Sydney in sleep-related oral appliance therapy, along with BDS (Hons), MSD and MPhil qualifications.
- His research on oral appliances has been published in peer-reviewed sleep and dental journals, and he received American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine research awards in 2011 and 2012.
- He is a past Co-Chair of the Australasian Sleep Association’s Dental and Orofacial Special Interest Group.
- Every device is TGA-approved and custom-made using high-quality German biomaterials with internal steel reinforcement, built to last.
- All appliances come with a 3-year warranty and typically last five to seven years.
- No referral is required to book, and clinics are available across NSW and Queensland.
How Getting Your Snoring Appliance Works
Book your consultation
Meet with the team and talk through your snoring, your sleep and your goals.
Check your sleep
If sleep apnoea needs to be ruled out, we will help you organise a sleep study.
Get fitted
We take digital scans of your teeth and make your custom snoring appliance.
Sleep quietly
Wear it each night, return for adjustment and review, and enjoy quieter sleep with no machine to manage.
Frequently Asked Questions
For many people, a custom MAS can noticeably reduce snoring by holding the lower jaw forward and opening the airway. Results depend on the cause of your snoring and how well the device fits, which is why each appliance from Dental Sleep Professionals is custom-made and adjusted at review.
No. A sports mouthguard or basic night guard only protects your teeth. A mandibular advancement splint is designed to hold your lower jaw slightly forward to open the airway and reduce snoring, which a standard mouthguard does not do.
Not always for your first appointment. A sleep study may be recommended if your snoring is loud or accompanied by signs of sleep apnoea, so the snoring is not treated while a more serious condition is missed. If you already have sleep study results, bring them along.
A custom MAS is made for your exact teeth, bite and jaw position, so it generally offers better comfort, fit and control than a boil-and-bite device. An ill-fitting device can be uncomfortable and less effective.
Most people adjust within a few nights to a few weeks. Some mild jaw or tooth pressure can occur early on, which is why fitting, adjustment and review appointments are part of treatment at Dental Sleep Professionals.
No referral is needed to book. The practice works alongside GPs, sleep physicians and ENT specialists, and accepts referrals, but you can arrange your own consultation directly.