Diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea
After a physician diagnosis and prescription, an appliance is an option for many patients; Dr. Sabah confirms whether it suits your result.
Sleep Apnea Treatment Without CPAP in Calgary SW
CPAP works – when you can use it
If the mask keeps you awake, leaks, or has ended up in a drawer, you are not alone, and untreated apnea is not the only alternative. For many patients with diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea, a custom oral appliance – a small device worn at night that holds the lower jaw slightly forward to keep the airway open – is a quiet, portable option. At Westside the physician who diagnoses you and the dentist who makes the appliance work in the same clinic.
Sleep apnea is diagnosed on the medical side of Westside by Dr. Sabah Jarullah, family physician. An oral appliance is only made after that diagnosis, by Dr. Zubaida Hussain, dentist. No referral needed.
Who an oral appliance can help
CPAP intolerance
Mask leaks, dry mouth, claustrophobia, noise, or a partner who cannot sleep beside the machine – the common reasons CPAP stops being used.
Travel and shift work
An appliance fits in a pocket, needs no power and no water, and goes anywhere you sleep – on its own or alongside CPAP at home.
How a custom appliance is made
1 – Diagnosis and prescription
A physician visit and a one-night home sleep test. In Alberta sleep apnea must be diagnosed by a physician; Dr. Sabah prescribes the appliance if it fits.
2 – Digital scan
Dr. Zubaida Hussain scans your teeth and jaw digitally – no messy impressions – and checks the joints and airway with 3D imaging where needed.
3 – Fitting and adjustment
The appliance is fitted and adjusted over a few visits until your breathing and comfort are right. Most people adapt within a couple of weeks.
4 – Confirm it works
A follow-up home sleep test with the appliance in place shows Dr. Sabah that your breathing has improved – not just that you feel better.
What it costs
The physician visits are insured under the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan. The appliance is a dental service that follows the Alberta Dental Fee Guide; many extended health plans cover a physician-prescribed sleep appliance, and we bill insurers directly where we can. The fee is explained before you decide.
Snoring without apnea is different: there, Solea Sleep laser treatment or EMFACE® muscle training may be the better fit – see snoring treatment.
Other options when CPAP is not working
Solea Sleep laser
For snoring without apnea: a short, needle-free laser session that firms the soft palate and may reduce snoring. Not a treatment for sleep apnea itself.
EMFACE® muscle training
Four short sessions that train the muscles under the chin and the floor of the mouth, for screened snorers, directed by Dr. Sabah on the medical side of the clinic.
Weight, mood and sleep habits
Weight management, menopause care and the mind & wellness program with Dr. Sabah address the drivers that make apnea and snoring worse.
Surgical referral
When the airway anatomy calls for it, Dr. Sabah refers you for a surgical opinion – after the conservative options have been considered.
Questions we hear about CPAP alternatives
Does an oral appliance work as well as CPAP?
For the right patient, an appliance that is worn every night can control apnea well – and an appliance that is used beats a CPAP that is not. Dr. Sabah confirms the result with a follow-up test; for some patients CPAP remains the right treatment.
Do I need a sleep test first?
Yes. An appliance is made only after a physician diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea. If you were diagnosed elsewhere, bring your report; Dr. Sabah reviews it at your visit.
Can I use it alongside my CPAP?
Many patients do – CPAP at home, the appliance when travelling or camping. Some use both together on medical advice.
Will my insurance cover it?
Many extended health plans cover a physician-prescribed sleep appliance. We help with the paperwork, and the fee is explained before you decide.
How long does an appliance last?
Several years with normal care. It is checked at your dental visits and adjusted if your bite or weight changes.
Will it change my bite?
Small tooth or bite changes can happen with any appliance worn for years. Dr. Zubaida Hussain checks for this at each visit and shows you morning exercises that help.
Children and sleep – from age 2
Snoring, mouth breathing, restless sleep, bedwetting or daytime behaviour changes in a child can point to a narrow airway. Children are assessed from age 2 with Dr. Zubaida Hussain, dentist, and Dr. Sabah Jarullah, family physician – see children's sleep & airway.
Content reviewed by Dr. Zubaida Hussain, dentist, and Dr. Sabah Jarullah, family physician, at Westside, West Springs, Calgary SW — last reviewed November 2026. Educational information only; it does not replace an assessment with your provider.
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