Dr. Halstrom Sleep Apnea & Snoring Clinics

02/12/2026

What is the SomnoDent Avant?

SomnoDent Avant (often referred to simply as the SomnoMed Avant) is a custom-made oral appliance designed to treat mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and snoring by repositioning your jaw during sleep to keep your airway open. It’s part of the SomnoDent family of devices made by SomnoMed, a well-known manufacturer of dental sleep medicine devices.

What It Is

It’s a mandibular advancement device (MAD) — a mouthpiece that you wear during sleep.
The device holds your lower jaw slightly forward so your airway stays open and breathing is easier. Reducing snoring and helping to manage mild to moderate OSA.

Key Features

Custom-fitted: Made to match the exact shape of your teeth and jaws using digital scans or impressions your dentist takes.
Milled design: It’s one of SomnoMed’s first milled oral devices — meaning it’s precisely carved from high-quality acrylic for durability and strength.
Comfort liner: A soft B-flex Comfort Liner cradles and supports the teeth, making it more comfortable and stable than many other oral appliances.
Slim and lightweight: Designed to be thinner and feel less bulky in the mouth, which can improve comfort and compliance.
Central straps or elastic bands: Some versions use a strap-based system that helps keep your mouth closed and maintain the proper jaw position throughout the night.

How It Helps

Reduces snoring: By keeping the airway open, it minimizes the turbulent airflow that causes snoring.
Improves sleep apnea symptoms: Effective for many individuals with mild to moderate OSA who cannot tolerate or prefer not to use CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure).
Comfort and compliance: Many patients report improved comfort compared with bulky CPAP masks, which can lead to better consistent use.

In short, the SomnoDent Avant is a digitally designed, custom-made, comfortable oral appliance often used as a CPAP alternative.

06/20/2025

Sleep Apnea ruins your sleep at night - but the daytime fatigue destroys your performance and enjoyment during the day.

02/14/2025

Thompson Rivers University Interview - Dr. Halstrom discusses the origin of oral appliance therapy and his own personal story.

09/06/2024

Why should I trust SomnoMed® with my sleep apnea treatment? "SomnoMed® is the world’s largest supplier of oral sleep apnea devices, operating in 28 countries. Since 2004, we’ve helped patients have a comfortable night’s sleep while effectively treating their sleep apnea.

We’ll make your device to the same medical device quality standards that are used for pacemakers to make sure your device is comfortable for your first night – and every night’s sleep."

Dr. Halstrom has chosen the SomnoMed Avant as a best in class device - the brilliant design simplicity combined with precision digital fabrication provides his patients with a treatment solution optimizing comfort and performance.

05/24/2024

Dr. Halstrom's Journey - Sleep Apnea Treatment

03/22/2024

SomnoMed Avant - both Dr. Halstrom and I (Don Halstrom) wear this device every night.

10/24/2023

12/01/2021

Study from July 2021 discusses Sleep Apnea and an association with accelerated vascular aging. Over the many years that we have been treating patients studies continue to underline the importance of seeking out an effective treatment for your sleep apnea.

"Sleep Apnea is Associated With Accelerated Vascular Aging: Results From 2 European Community‐Based Cohort Studies"

Abstract

Background
The mechanisms underlying the association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and cardiovascular disease may include accelerated vascular aging. The aim was to compare the magnitude of vascular aging in patients with high versus low risk of OSA.

Conclusions
These data lend support for accelerated vascular aging in individuals with high risk of OSA. This may, at least in part, underlie the association between OSA and cardiovascular disease.

Methods and Results
In 2 community‐based studies, the PPS3 (Paris Prospective Study 3) and the Maastricht Study, high risk of OSA was determined with the Berlin questionnaire (a screening questionnaire for OSA). We assessed carotid artery properties (carotid intima‐media thickness, Young’s elastic modulus, carotid‐femoral pulse wave velocity, carotid pulse wave velocity, carotid diameter using high precision ultrasound echography), and carotid‐femoral pulse wave velocity (in the Maastricht Study only). Regression coefficients were estimated on pooled data using multivariate linear regression. A total of 8615 participants without prior cardiovascular disease were included (6840 from PPS3, 62% men, mean age 59.5±6.2 years, and 1775 from the Maastricht Study, 51% men, 58.9±8.1 years). Overall, high risk of OSA prevalence was 16.8% (n=1150) in PPS3 and 23.8% (n=423) in the Maastricht Study. A high risk of OSA was associated with greater carotid intima‐media thickness (β=0.21; 0.17–0.26), Young’s elastic modulus (β=0.21; 0.17–0.25), carotid‐femoral pulse wave velocity (β=0.24; 0.14–0.34), carotid pulse wave velocity (β=0.31; 0.26–0.35), and carotid diameter (β=0.43; 0.38–0.48), after adjustment for age, s*x, total cholesterol, smoking, education level, diabetes mellitus, heart rate, and study site. Consistent associations were observed after additional adjustments for mean blood pressure, body mass index, or antihypertensive medications.

Quentin Lisan, Thomas van Sloten, Pierre Boutouyrie, Stéphane Laurent, Nicolas Danchin, Frédérique Thomas, Catherine Guibout, Marie‐Cécile Perier, Pieter Dagnelie, Ronald M. Henry, Miranda T. Schram, Raphaël Heinzer, Pedro Marques‐Vidal, Carla J. van der Kallen, Harry J. Crijns, Marleen van Greevenbroek, Koen Reesink, Sebastian Köhler, Manuel Sastry, Xavier Jouven, … See all authors

Originally published26 Jul 2021https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.120.021318Journal of the American Heart Association. 2021;10:e021318