Comfortable Mississauga sleep apnea treatment, made for you
A slim MicrO2 oral appliance, fitted by our team after your sleep study
Written by the Willow Dental Associates team. Medically reviewed by Dr. Neil Elman. Last reviewed: November 2026.
When sleep apnea follows you into the day
Sleep apnea can show up in small ways, and you might notice a few of these. After a sleep study confirms it, Willow Dental Associates offers Mississauga sleep apnea treatment with a custom oral appliance you wear only while you sleep.
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Snoring someone else hears
A partner might mention the noise, or notice your breathing stop for a few seconds at a time.
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Mornings that start tired
You might sleep seven or eight hours and still need coffee, or a nap, to get through the afternoon.
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Headaches and a dry mouth
Waking up with either one can be a sign of mouth breathing, or of breathing that stops and starts during the night.
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A CPAP machine you've set aside
Maybe the mask, the hose, or the hum made it hard to keep using, so the machine stays in its case.
What is an oral appliance for sleep apnea?
An oral appliance for sleep apnea is a custom mouthpiece that holds your lower jaw slightly forward while you sleep, so your tongue and throat tissue are less likely to block your airway. It's made for snoring and obstructive sleep apnea, and you take it out in the morning.
The MicrO2, the appliance we fit
A certified dental lab mills each MicrO2 from a solid block of dental resin, so it's thin and strong. There's no bulky plastic behind your lower front teeth, which leaves your tongue more room, and it holds your jaw forward even if your mouth opens in your sleep.
Who an appliance suits
- Snoring: Loud snoring without sleep apnea, once your physician has ruled it out.
- Mild to moderate sleep apnea: The level oral appliances are designed to treat.
- Severe sleep apnea: When CPAP isn't working for you, as your physician advises.
- Enough teeth to hold it: The appliance grips your upper and lower teeth, so it needs healthy teeth on both arches.
Oral appliance or CPAP? How they compare
CPAP and oral appliances both keep your airway open while you sleep, in very different ways.
- How it works:
- A CPAP pushes air through a mask. An appliance holds your jaw forward, with no air, mask, or hose.
- Noise:
- A CPAP machine hums, and a loose mask can leak air. An appliance makes no sound.
- Travel:
- A CPAP needs its machine, tubing, and a power outlet. An appliance fits in a small case in your bag.
- Best match:
- CPAP is the standard first treatment and works at every level of sleep apnea. An appliance suits snoring and mild to moderate sleep apnea, plus people who can't keep using CPAP.
- Side effects:
- CPAP can dry your nose and mouth or leave marks from the mask. An appliance can make your jaw or teeth sore for the first few weeks and can shift your bite slowly over the years, which we watch for at follow-ups.
- Upkeep:
- Masks, filters, and tubing need regular replacing. An appliance needs a daily clean and regular checks.
Some people keep both and reach for the appliance when they travel. Your physician and Dr. Elman can talk through which one fits your sleep study.
Book OnlineEvening hours on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Why treat sleep apnea sooner?
How we fit your MicrO2, visit by visit
Getting an oral appliance takes a few visits over several weeks, starting with a sleep study from your physician.
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A sleep study and diagnosis
A physician diagnoses sleep apnea with a sleep study, at a sleep clinic or at home. Bring the report to your consultation, and we'll go over what it means for an appliance.
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Your consultation and digital scan
Dr. Elman's team checks your teeth, gums, bite, and jaw, then takes an iTero digital scan of your teeth, with no impression trays.
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Your MicrO2, milled by a dental lab
The lab mills your appliance to your scan and to the jaw position we prescribe, which usually takes a few weeks.
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Fitting and adjusting
At your fitting, we check how it sits and show you how to wear and clean it. Over the next few weeks, we move your jaw forward in small steps until your snoring and symptoms ease.
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A follow-up sleep test
Once the fit feels settled, your physician can order a follow-up sleep test to confirm the appliance is working, and we'll keep checking it at your regular visits.
Saturday appointments every other week.
Getting used to your appliance
Most people need a week or two to sleep comfortably with an appliance.
Related care for breathing and sleep
Sleep and breathing come up in other parts of our care, for adults and growing kids.
- Myofunctional therapy: Exercises for the tongue, lips, and throat muscles that can support an appliance and help with mouth breathing.
- Clear aligners: We plan aligner treatment with an airway-minded, expansion approach, looking at breathing along with how your teeth line up.
Costs and coverage for sleep apnea appliances
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Sleep apnea is a medical diagnosis, so a physician confirms it with a sleep study, at a clinic or at home, before we make an appliance. The results show whether your sleep apnea is mild, moderate, or severe, which shapes your options. If you only snore, your physician can still rule out sleep apnea first.
The fee covers the appliance, your scan, and the adjustment visits, and you'll get the full number after your consultation. Some extended health plans pay for an appliance with a physician's prescription, while CDCP doesn't. An interest-free plan for up to 6 months, or financing for up to 24 months, can spread the cost.
For many people, snoring gets quieter or stops once the appliance is adjusted, because holding the jaw forward keeps the airway more open. Results vary from person to person, so we fine-tune the fit over a few weeks. If you have sleep apnea, your physician can confirm the effect with a follow-up sleep test.
With daily cleaning and regular checks, an appliance often lasts several years before it needs replacing. Grinding, wear, and changes to your teeth, such as a new crown, can shorten that. Bring it to your cleanings so we can check the fit, and we'll let you know when it no longer holds your jaw where it should.
Call (905) 279-5050 or book online, and bring your sleep study report if you have one. Patients come to our Queensway East office for Mississauga sleep apnea treatment from across the city and from neighbouring Etobicoke. Willow Dental Associates is a non-corporate practice, and you'll see the same dentist at each adjustment visit unless you ask otherwise.
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