Referring a Patient for Snoring or Sleep Apnoea
We work alongside GPs, sleep physicians and ENT specialists as part of a shared-care, evidence-based approach to managing snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea.
Our role is complementary - not a replacement for sleep physician care or CPAP therapy where indicated, but a clinically sound, well-supported option for patients who need one.
Our Approach To Shared Care
Oral appliance therapy is a well-established, evidence-based treatment for snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), recommended by the Australasian Sleep Association and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine as the frontline treatment for snoring, mild and moderate OSA - and alongside CPAP treatment for severe OSA.
CPAP therapy remains the gold standard for severe OSA and is the most efficacious treatment for reducing the apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI). However, real-world outcomes tell a more complex story. A significant proportion of patients are unable to tolerate CPAP - and an untreated patient, regardless of the reason, carries the full burden of their condition. For these patients, oral appliance therapy is not a compromise. It is the treatment that actually gets used.
The evidence is clear. Oral appliances achieve comparable real-world effectiveness to CPAP treatment for sleep apnoea, driven by significantly higher adherence and patient tolerance.
Studies* consistently show that oral appliance therapy:
Reduces AHI and snoring
Improves oxygenation
Is better tolerated than CPAP treatment, resulting in higher long-term compliance
Offers a comfortable, portable and travel-friendly alternative
Integrates effectively within a multidisciplinary, shared-care model of OSA management
It is particularly appropriate for patients who:
Struggle to tolerate CPAP treatment or those who are not compliant to CPAP therapy
Prefer a lower-burden treatment option
Require an alternative or adjunct for travel or intermittent use
Present with Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome (UARS), mild to moderate OSA or primary snoring
Evidence based care
Dental sleep medicine is all we do. Our clinicians hold formal training and accreditation in the field, with a strong focus on appropriate patient selection, evidence-based oral appliance therapy and structured clinical reporting.
Clear communication
We keep you informed. Following each patient's treatment, we provide structured clinical reporting back to the referring medical doctor - GP and relevant specialists - so you remain central to your patient's ongoing care.
* References available on request. SleepWise clinicians are happy to discuss the evidence base with referring practitioners.
Our
Commitment
To Referring Clinicians
We understand that a referral reflects your trust in us, and we take that seriously.
When you refer your patient to SleepWise, here is what you can expect:
A comprehensive initial consultation assessing suitability for oral appliance therapy
A home sleep study arranged if your patient has not yet been diagnosed, with a copy of the report sent to you directly - we will also review the sleep study with your patient and refer them back to you or any relevant specialists if indicated
A custom-fitted, Australian-made 3D-printed oral appliance where clinically appropriate
We provide structured follow-up reviews and appliance adjustments throughout the first 12 months of treatment, included as part of our comprehensive care. We will continue to review your patients annually thereafter.
Written clinical reporting back to you and any relevant specialists at key stages of treatment
We work closely with sleep physicians, ENT surgeons and GPs across Melbourne and Geelong and are listed on major medical directories including HealthLink, ZedMed, Best Practice, Genie, Medical Director and Healthshare.
Get in touch
If you have a specific patient you would like to discuss, would like further clinical information or would welcome a brief in-practice introduction and demonstration of oral appliance therapy, we would be very happy to help.
Simply fill in a contact form and we’ll be in touch!
Resources for your practice
We can provide your clinic with patient referral pads, patient information flyers for in-practice use, an overview of oral appliance therapy for snoring and OSA, and a summary of Australian Dental Association guidelines on oral appliance therapy.
Ready to refer?
Use our online referral form and we will be in touch with your patient within one business day.
3 convenient locations across Melbourne
SleepWise Clinic - Melbourne CBD
Level 5, 294-296 Collins Street,
Melbourne VIC 3000
M-F 9am - 5pm
SleepWise Clinic - Geelong
264 Shannon Avenue,
Geelong West VIC 3218
M, T, TH 9am-5pm
SleepWise Clinic - Hawthorn East
GF 124-126 Camberwell Rd,
Hawthorn East VIC 3123
TH 9am-5pm