Your First Steps Toward Better Sleep
Getting Started With Oral Appliance Therapy
If you’ve been diagnosed with sleep apnea, or suspect you may have it, starting treatment can feel overwhelming.
At West Michigan Sleep Network, we make the process clear and straightforward. Our goal is to help you understand each step and feel confident moving forward.
If you are ready to explore a CPAP alternative or oral appliance therapy for sleep apnea, we’re here to help.
Step 1
Schedule a Consultation
Call our office at 616-784-0274 or request an appointment online.
During your initial consultation, we will:
Discuss prior CPAP experience (if applicable)
Determine whether oral appliance therapy may be appropriate
If you do not yet have a sleep study, we can guide you on next steps.
Step 2
Dental Evaluation
If you are a candidate for oral appliance therapy, we will perform a dental evaluation to ensure:
Healthy teeth and gums
Adequate jaw function
Proper bite relationship
Suitability for a custom appliance
This ensures comfort and long-term effectiveness.
Step 3Appliance Delivery & Adjustment
Digital Scan & Custom Appliance
We use modern digital scanning technology to create a precise model of your teeth.
Your custom oral appliance is then fabricated specifically for you.
No mask.
No tubing.
No machine.
Just a small, custom-fitted device designed for comfort and effectiveness.
Step 4When your appliance is ready, we will:
Ensure proper fit
Provide detailed instructions
Begin gradual titration adjustments
Schedule follow-up visits
Adjustment is typically gradual to maximize comfort and effectiveness.
Step 5Follow-Up & Monitoring
Follow-up care is important.
We monitor:
Comfort
Symptom improvement
Snoring reduction
Overall sleep quality
In some cases, follow-up testing may be recommended by your medical provider to confirm effectiveness.
Step 6Insurance & Coverage
Oral appliance therapy is typically billed through medical insurance, not dental insurance.
Our team helps with:
Insurance verification
Documentation requirements
Authorization steps
Understanding potential out-of-pocket costs
We aim to make this process as smooth as possible.