Sleep Apnea
From CRMP to Thornton to SomnoMed
Dental sleep medicine is one of the fastest-growing areas of clinical practice — and Saunders Dental Laboratory is fully equipped to support it. We fabricate a range of FDA-cleared oral appliances designed to treat mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea and chronic snoring by gently repositioning the lower jaw to maintain an open airway during sleep. Every device is custom-fitted from your impressions or digital cans for optimal patient comfort, compliance, and therapeutic effectiveness.
Why Oral Appliance Therapy:
For patients who can't tolerate CPAP or prefer a less invasive treatment option, mandibular advancement devices offer a proven alternative. These custom-fabricated appliances are small, portable, and silent — making them significantly easier for patients to adopt and wear consistently. As more physicians and sleep specialists refer patients to dentists for oral appliance therapy, having a reliable lab partner who understands these devices is essential.
Our Sleep Apnea Appliances:
CRMP Appliance — A durable, precision-fit mandibular repositioning device designed for controlled advancement of the lower jaw. Ideal for patients requiring a reliable, low-profile appliance with a comfortable fit and easy chairside adjustments.
Thornton Adjustable Positioner (TAP III©) — One of the most widely prescribed and clinically validated sleep appliances available. The TAP III features a single-point midline adjustment mechanism that allows for precise, incremental mandibular advancement — giving you and your patient full control over titration without the need for multiple appliances or laboratory remakes.
SomnoMed© MAS — The SomnoMed Mandibular Advancement Splint is a premium, patient-friendly device known for its slim design, lateral jaw movement capability, and superior comfort. Its unique fin-coupling mechanism allows fine titration adjustments and accommodates natural mouth opening — leading to higher patient compliance and better long-term outcomes.
Materials & Fabrication:
Every sleep appliance we produce is fabricated using medical-grade acrylic and thermoplastic materials that meet FDA standards for intraoral devices. Our technicians follow manufacturer protocols precisely for each appliance system, ensuring proper fit, function, and durability. All devices are finished, polished, and inspected before shipping — ready for chairside delivery and titration.
Fitting & Titration Support:
Successful oral appliance therapy depends on more than fabrication — it requires proper bite registration, accurate titration, and ongoing adjustment. Our team can consult with you on bite protocols, protrusive positioning, and appliance selection based on your patient's anatomy, severity of diagnosis, and comfort preferences. If you're new to dental sleep medicine, we'll help you get comfortable with the workflow from first impression to final delivery.
Working With Sleep Physicians:
Many sleep apnea cases begin with a physician referral and a sleep study. We understand the collaborative nature of this workflow and fabricate our appliances to align with the treating physician's prescribed parameters. If follow-up sleep testing indicates the need for further advancement or a different appliance design, we offer efficient remakes and modifications to keep treatment on track.
Digital & Traditional Workflows:
We accept digital scans from all major intraoral scanners as well as traditional PVS impressions and bite registrations for all sleep appliance fabrication. Digital submissions allow us to produce highly accurate 3D-printed models for improved appliance fit and faster turnaround.
Interested? Check Out Our Promotions
Ready to experience the Virginia Dental Lab difference? Take advantage of our current promotions and get more out of your first case with us — including free delivery on first submission and free delivery on all submissions throughout the Norfolk area. It's the perfect time to see firsthand why dental professionals across the country have trusted us for 95 years.