Oral Appliance Therapy For Sleep Apnea

The device fits much like a sports mouth guard or orthodontic retainer.

Oral appliance therapy for sleep apnea.

Oral appliances are a good and effective alternative to cpap in treating mild to moderate sleep apnea. It supports the jaw in a forward position to help maintain an open upper airway. For people who can t tolerate a cpap machine dentists may recommend an oral appliance. Worn only during sleep an oral appliance fits like an orthodontic retainer.

If you have persistent symptoms of sleep apnea and don t use your cpap you should have a conversation with your sleep doctor to review alternative treatments including potentially using an oral appliance and trying some exercises as long as you do not have severe sleep apnea. Research shows that oral appliance therapy is an effective treatment option for snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. Despite their double retainer like appearance oral appliances are said to be comfortable to use. Another dental device stabilizes the tongue.

If you and your doctor decide that oral appliance therapy is the best treatment option for you then your doctor will write a prescription for you to receive a custom made oral appliance. Oral appliance therapy for obstructive sleep apnea. Oral appliance therapy is a treatment for snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. The preferred method of treating obstructive sleep apnea osa is the cpap machine.

It involves wearing a removable oral appliance in your mouth as you sleep. They should be custom fitted by your dentist to ensure both comfort and effectiveness. The purpose of this appliance is to keep your airway open while you sleep so that you can breathe easily without any apnea interruptions. Oral appliances are most effective in the treatment of mild to moderate sleep apnea although they do provide a treatment alternative for patients with severe osa who cannot or will not tolerate positive airway pressure therapy.

One appliance looks like a mouth guard.