Ranging from a minor irritation to a serious disruption, snoring can impact sleep quality and disturb bed partners. However, there are options for those who want to stop snoring. Along with addressing nasal congestion, maintaining a healthy weight, and changing your sleep position or mattress type, many sleepers have found anti-snoring devices to be helpful.
The Silent Nite is a mouth guard designed to reduce or eliminate snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). We’ll take a closer look at the Silent Nite’s performance, pros and cons, and how you can obtain one.
Silent Nite Sleep Appliance: What You Need to Know
The Silent Nite is a mandibular advancement device (MAD) that gently pulls the lower jaw forward with plastic connectors. Holding the jaw in this position activates the collapsed muscles and soft tissues in the back of the throat that can partially block the upper airway and cause snoring.
The device requires a prescription, you’ll need to visit a dental professional for a custom fit. Fabricating the device takes three in-lab working days, after which the Silent Nite is ready to ship.
Each Silent Nite comes with paired connectors in varying lengths that attach to the device on both sides. The shorter the connector length, the further forward the jaw advances. Sleepers may find they need to shorten the connector length over time to achieve desired results. Adjustments are easy to make and can be done in a dental office or at home.
Some sleepers may experience initial discomfort in their teeth, gums, and jaw. Any discomfort should improve after several days with regular use. The included AM Aligner helps realign the jaw after wearing Silent Nite.
Pros and Cons
The Silent Nite requires a prescription, an in-office visit, and lab fabrication. The custom fit is designed to help you get higher-quality sleep and experience less snoring. It’s important to note that the skilled assessment, professional fitting, and careful construction require extra time to manufacture. Adjustments via sized connectors may be made at home.
Since the company’s establishment and their Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval in 1997, Silent Nite has issued hundreds of thousands of mouth guards. Side effects, like excess salivation, are generally minor.
Pros
- Customized fit by a dental professional
- Lengthy safety track record
- Sized connectors for adjustability
Cons
- Requires a prescription and in-office visit
- Three-day lab processing time after receipt of impressions
- May cause excess salivation
Who Should Use the Silent Nite?
Sleepers looking to treat snoring and mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea may find their symptoms eliminated or alleviated by using the Silent Nite. However, people with certain conditions such as central sleep apnea or TMJ, as well as individuals under the age of 18, shouldn’t use the device. If you have questions about using the Silent Nite, check with your doctor or dentist to see if it’s a good fit for you.
Who Is It Ideal For?
- Sleepers who want to treat snoring or mild to moderate sleep apnea
- Adults with good oral and physical health
Who Should Avoid It?
- Sleepers with central sleep apnea or severe respiratory disorders
- Those with loose teeth, gum disease, and other oral conditions
- People with TMJ
- Those under 18 years old
How Does the Silent Nite Work?
Snoring occurs when the soft tissues and muscles at the back of the throat relax during sleep and partially obstruct the upper airway. Each breath is forced through this narrowed opening, vibrating the tissues as air passes through.
The Silent Nite is an intraoral device that addresses this problem. The device consists of two layers of transparent, BPA-free plastic: a durable outer layer and a softer inner layer that grips the teeth and holds the Silent Nite in place.
Connectors attach to the sides of the device. These gently prop the jaw forward from its natural position in 1 to 6 millimeter increments. Sleepers can gradually adjust the advancement of the jaw by changing the connectors. This repositioning helps to open the airway and reduce or stop the vibrations that cause snoring.
Performance
The Silent Nite is FDA-approved for the treatment of snoring and mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea. Using an oral anti-snoring device has a higher overall satisfaction and compliance rate than CPAP therapy. Additionally, MADs have a similar success rate as CPAP therapy for treating mild to moderate OSA.
Available Models
Glidewell, the manufacturer of the Silent Nite, also offers the mouth guard with Glidewell Hinge. This model features telescoping hinges rather than plastic connectors and allows for micro adjustments up to 10 millimeters. Glidewell offers four other anti-snoring appliances, featuring variations in maximum advancement length and the mechanics of how the jaw advances.
Design and Materials
The Silent Nite consists of two transparent, flexible BPA-free trays that are custom-fit to your teeth. Two plastic connectors on either side of the Silent Nite attach to the upper and lower trays and advance the jaw in 1 to 6 millimeter increments.
Lifespan
The lifespan of the Silent Nite is variable depending on how consistently you use the device and how well you maintain it. If you tend to clench your jaw or grind your teeth, you may need to replace the Silent Nite more frequently.
Cleaning and Maintenance
You should floss and brush your teeth before using the device. Be sure to rinse thoroughly after using mouthwash and before you insert the Silent Nite. After each use, Glidewell recommends using a peroxide-based oral appliance cleaner and rinsing it with cool water. The Silent Nite should be air dried and then stored in the included storage case.
How Is the Silent Nite Customized?
Sleepers can get fitted for a Silent Nite during an in-office dentist visit. A dental professional takes mouth impressions as well as a bite registration. These are then sent to a lab for processing and fabrication.
Where Can You Get the Silent Nite Mouth Guard?
The Silent Nite is available by prescription only. Those interested in a Silent Nite appliance should schedule a visit with their dentist. After a consultation and evaluation, the dentist can proceed with taking the required impressions. The lab creates a custom-fit Silent Nite from these impressions within three business days. Shipping times will vary. The Silent Nite comes with a no-fault remake policy and two-year limited warranty.
Trial, Warranty, and Shipping Policies | |
|---|---|
Availability | The Silent Nite can only be purchased through a dental professional. |
Estimated Cost | Pricing is only available to dental professionals and may vary for each custom-made device. The Silent Nite is not Medicare approved. |
Eligibility Requirements | A prescription and professional fitting is required. |
Processing Time | Processing and fabricating takes three in-lab days after receipt of the required impressions. |
Shipping | Shipping fees and times vary by provider and location. |
Warranty and Replacements | The Silent Nite comes with a two-year limited warranty that includes a no-fault remake policy, cost-free adjustments and repairs, or refund of the original price paid. |
About The Author
Staff Writer, Product Testing Team
Garen is a health and lifestyle content creator. She realized the importance of sleep when her children made getting a good night’s rest more challenging. Garen is always learning something new about the wide world of sleep and sleep products. Married with two girls, ages 7 and 11, she is a book nerd and a lover of pop music, travel, and the Pacific Northwest.
- POSITION: Side Sleeper
- TEMPERATURE: Neutral Sleeper
- CHRONOTYPE: Wolf
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