How long does an oral appliance for sleep apnea last?

Sleep apnea dental appliances can last up to two years with continual wear. Some patients may need a replacement as early as six months, but that is rarely the case. After two years, the mouth guard may get worn down and become less effective. If you bring your dental appliance in for your checkups, we can watch for signs of wear and create a replacement mouth guard in advance.

Night time teeth grinding may affect the durability of your sleep apnea mouthguard. This puts extra pressure and friction on the oral appliance, which could damage the materials over time. Of course, the mouthguards are designed to withstand some clenching and grinding. If you know that you grind your teeth at night, you may need to prepare for a replacement earlier than most.

Another factor that could shrink the lifespan of a dental appliance is improper cleaning and maintenance. We will give you detailed aftercare instructions to help you take care of your mouthguard. If you use the wrong tools or cleaning solutions to maintain the mouth guard, you may compromise its integrity. For instance, cleaning the guard with hot water could cause it to lose shape over time.