CALL NOW
PAY ONLINE
VIRTUAL APPOINTMENT LOGIN
PATIENT REFERRAL
JOIN OUR APP
JOIN NOW

Effective Oral Appliances for Sleep Apnea by Dr. Christian

The Center for Sleep Apnea & TMJ

Idaho's ONLY

  • Boarded dental sleep doctors.
  • Boarded craniofacial pain doctors.
  • Accredited dental sleep center.

Sleep apnea is a serious condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It happens when the airway becomes blocked during sleep, causing pauses in breathing. These interruptions can lead to restless nights and a range of health issues, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and daytime fatigue. Many people turn to CPAP machines for treatment, but these devices don't work for everyone.


Oral appliances offer a great alternative to CPAP therapy. These devices are designed to keep the airway open, allowing for uninterrupted breathing throughout the night. Dr. Christian of The Sleep & TMJ Group specializes in fitting patients with customized oral appliances to manage sleep apnea effectively.


In this article, Dr. Christian will explain what oral appliances are, how they work, and the different types available. You will also learn about the benefits and considerations of using these devices. This information will help you make an informed decision about managing your sleep apnea with an oral appliance tailored to your needs.


What Are Oral Appliances for Sleep Apnea?


Oral appliances for sleep apnea are custom-made devices worn in the mouth during sleep. They are designed to keep the airway open and unobstructed, allowing for normal breathing. These appliances are a popular alternative to CPAP machines, especially for individuals who find CPAP uncomfortable or impractical.


Commonly, these devices look similar to a sports mouth guard or an orthodontic retainer. They are made from lightweight, durable materials and are crafted to fit the unique shape of your mouth. Oral appliances are particularly effective for those with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). By preventing airway collapse, they help reduce snoring and improve sleep quality.


Dr. Christian emphasizes that oral appliances are easy to wear and maintain. They do not require electricity or complex setups, making them a convenient choice for many patients. With regular use and proper care, these devices can provide significant relief from sleep apnea symptoms.


How Oral Appliances Work: Dr. Christian’s Insights


Dr. Christian explains that oral appliances work by repositioning the jaw and tongue to keep the airway open during sleep. There are two primary mechanisms through which these devices operate:


  • Jaw Advancement: Many oral appliances, known as mandibular advancement devices (MADs), work by moving the lower jaw forward. This forward positioning helps prevent the collapse of the airway by tightening the tissues and muscles of the upper airway. By keeping the airway open, MADs reduce the frequency and severity of apnea events.


  • Tongue Retention: Some devices, called tongue-retaining devices (TRDs), focus on holding the tongue in place. The tongue can fall back and block the airway during sleep in many cases of sleep apnea. TRDs use a gentle suction to keep the tongue in a forward position, preventing it from obstructing the airway.


Dr. Christian states that the effectiveness of oral appliances depends on proper fitting and customization. A precise fit ensures that the device works correctly and is comfortable to wear. Regular follow-ups with Dr. Christian help adjust the appliance as needed and monitor its effectiveness.


By understanding how these devices work, patients can appreciate the role of oral appliances in managing sleep apnea. This knowledge empowers them to make well-informed decisions about their treatment options.


Different Types of Oral Appliances for Sleep Apnea


Mandibular Advancement Devices (MADs)


Mandibular Advancement Devices are the most commonly used oral appliances for sleep apnea. These devices work by pushing the lower jaw forward, which helps to open up the airway.


Dr. Christian fits each MAD to the patient's mouth, ensuring it's comfortable and effective. MADs are adjustable, so the jaw can be positioned just right. By advancing the lower jaw, the MAD tightens the muscles and tissues of the upper airway, reducing the risk of collapse during sleep. This adjustment helps minimize snoring and apnea events, leading to better quality sleep and improved daytime alertness.


Tongue Retaining Devices (TRDs)


Tongue-retaining devices are another option for managing sleep apnea. TRDs are designed to hold the tongue in a forward position, preventing it from falling back and blocking the airway during sleep.


Dr. Christian highlights that TRDs use gentle suction to keep the tongue in place. These devices can be particularly effective for patients with a large tongue or those who cannot use MADs due to jaw issues. TRDs are often easier to adjust and can provide immediate relief from symptoms. By keeping the airway open, TRDs help patients breathe more easily and sleep more soundly.


Benefits and Considerations of Oral Appliances According to Dr. Christian


Benefits of Using Oral Appliances


Dr. Christian outlines several key benefits of using oral appliances for sleep apnea:


  • Comfort and Ease of Use: Oral appliances are more comfortable to wear than CPAP masks. They are small, portable, and easy to clean.
  • Non-Invasive Treatment: Unlike surgery, oral appliances offer a non-invasive way to manage sleep apnea. There are no surgical risks or long recovery times.
  • Improved Compliance: Many patients find that they are more likely to use oral appliances consistently compared to CPAP machines, leading to better treatment outcomes.


Considerations to Keep in Mind


While there are many advantages to oral appliances, there are also some considerations:


  • Customization and Fitting: To be effective, oral appliances need to be custom fitted. Dr. Christian will make adjustments to ensure the best fit and comfort.
  • Potential Side Effects: Some users may experience minor side effects like dry mouth, jaw discomfort, or tooth movement. Regular follow-ups with Dr. Christian can help manage and mitigate these issues.
  • Not Suitable for All: Oral appliances may not be suitable for severe sleep apnea cases. Dr. Christian will evaluate each patient to determine if an oral appliance is the right treatment option.


Conclusion


Oral appliances offer a promising and effective alternative to CPAP therapy for managing sleep apnea. They provide a comfortable, non-invasive option that can lead to better sleep quality and overall health. Dr. Christian at The Sleep & TMJ Group is dedicated to helping patients find the right treatment for their needs.


If you're exploring options beyond CPAP, understanding the benefits and considerations of oral appliances can empower you to make an informed decision. These devices, whether they involve jaw advancement or tongue retention, offer effective solutions tailored to individual needs.


Improving sleep quality is crucial for overall well-being. If you're considering alternatives to CPAP for sleep apnea, consult Dr. Christian to find the best oral appliance for sleep apnea. Contact The Sleep & TMJ Group today to schedule a consultation and take the first step towards restful sleep.

PREVIOUSNEXT
Benefits of Using a Sleep Apnea Mouthpiece Explained by Dr. Christian
Choose the Right Sleep Apnea Mouthpiece with The Sleep & TMJ Group
READ MORE
Oral Appliance Therapy for Sleep Apnea
READ MORE
TMJ Disorders: Symptoms and Treatments
READ MORE
TMJ Disorder Treatment Options in Seattle
READ MORE
Benefits of Using a Sleep Apnea Mouthpiece Explained by Dr. Christian
READ MORE
Beating Sleep Apnea with Non-CPAP Solutions: Insights from Dr. Christian
READ MORE

Send us a Message

Have a question? We’re here to help. Send us a message and one of our team members will contact you as soon as possible. 

ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT

We are committed to providing a website that is accessible to individuals with disabilities, in conformance with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, Level A & AA.

To this end, we regularly test our website in accordance with best practices, using automated and manual testing and with the assistance of accessibility consultant eSSENTIAL Accessibility which is supported by a diverse team of accessibility professionals including users of assistive technologies. We also make available an assistive CX technology application which our customers who have trouble typing, gesturing, moving a mouse, or reading can use for additional accessibility, however it is not required to use our website. The application is free to download and it incorporates tools such as mouse and keyboard replacements, voice recognition, speech enablement, hands-free/touch-free navigation, and more.


We welcome your feedback. If you encounter any accessibility barriers or otherwise have difficulty using our website due your disability, please contact our office and we will make any necessary changes.

© 2024 All Rights Reserved | The Sleep And TMJ Group

QUESTIONS? WE CAN HELP

PRIVACY STATEMENT

We are committed to protecting your privacy and providing a safe online experience. This Privacy Statement applies to our Practice's website and governs our data collection and usage practices. By using this website, you consent to the data practices described in this Privacy Statement.

Collection of your Personal Information

This Practice collects personally identifiable information provided by you, such as your e-mail address, name, home or work address or telephone number. This Practice also collects anonymous demographic information, which is not unique to you, such as your ZIP code, age, gender, preferences, interests and favorites. There is also information about your computer hardware and software that is automatically collected by this website. This information can include: your IP address, browser type, domain names, access times and referring website addresses. This information is used for the operation of the service, to maintain quality of the service, and to provide general statistics regarding use of this website. Please keep in mind that if you directly disclose personally identifiable information or personally sensitive data through public message boards, this information may be collected and used by others. This Practice encourages you to review the privacy statements of websites you choose to link to from the website so that you can understand how those websites collect, use and share your information. This Practice is not responsible for the privacy statements or other content on any other websites.

Use of your Personal Information


This Practice collects and uses your personal information to operate the website and deliver the services you have requested. This Practice also uses your personally identifiable information to inform you of other products or services available from this Practice and its affiliates. This Practice may also contact you via surveys to conduct research about your opinion of current services or of potential new services that may be offered. This Practice does not sell, rent or lease its customer lists to third parties. This Practice may share data with trusted partners to help us perform statistical analysis, send you email or postal mail, provide customer support, or arrange for deliveries. All such third parties are prohibited from using your personal information except to provide these services and they are required to maintain the confidentiality of your information. This Practice does not use or disclose sensitive personal information, such as race, religion, or political affiliations, without your explicit consent. This Practice will disclose your personal information, without notice, only if required to do so by law.


Use of Cookies


The website uses "cookies" to help this Practice personalize your online experience. A cookie is a text file that is placed on your hard disk by a webpage server. Cookies cannot be used to run programs or deliver viruses to your computer. Cookies are uniquely assigned to you, and can only be read by a web server in the domain that issued the cookie to you.


Security of your Personal Information


This Practice secures your personal information from unauthorized access, use or disclosure. This Practice secures the personally identifiable information you provide on computer servers in a controlled, secure environment, protected from unauthorized access, use or disclosure. When personal information (such as a credit card number) is transmitted to other websites, it is protected through the use of encryption, such as the Secure Socket Layer (SSL) protocol.


Changes to this Statement


This Practice will occasionally update this Privacy Statement to reflect company and customer feedback. We encourage you to periodically review this Privacy Statement to be informed of how this Practice is protecting your information.


Contact Information


Please contact us by phone at 206-770-0260 or by mail at 2101 4th Ave, Ste 2330, Seattle, WA 98121.

ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT

We are committed to providing a website that is accessible to individuals with disabilities, in conformance with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, Level A & AA.

To this end, we regularly test our website in accordance with best practices, using automated and manual testing and with the assistance of accessibility consultant eSSENTIAL Accessibility which is supported by a diverse team of accessibility professionals including users of assistive technologies. We also make available an assistive CX technology application which our customers who have trouble typing, gesturing, moving a mouse, or reading can use for additional accessibility, however it is not required to use our website. The application is free to download and it incorporates tools such as mouse and keyboard replacements, voice recognition, speech enablement, hands-free/touch-free navigation, and more.


We welcome your feedback. If you encounter any accessibility barriers or otherwise have difficulty using our website due your disability, please contact our office and we will make any necessary changes.

TERMS & CONDITIONS

This Practice website is offered to you conditioned on your acceptance without modification of the terms, conditions, and notices contained herein. Your use of this Practice website constitutes your agreement to all such terms, conditions, and notices.

MODIFICATION OF THESE TERMS OF USE


This Practice reserves the right to change the terms, conditions, and notices under which this Practice website is offered, including but not limited to the charges associated with the use of this Practice website.


LINKS TO THIRD PARTY SITES


This Practice website may contain links to other websites ("Linked Sites"). The Linked Sites are not under the control of this Practice and this Practice is not responsible for the contents of any Linked Site, including without limitation any link contained in a Linked Site, or any changes or updates to a Linked Site. This Practice is not responsible for webcasting or any other form of transmission received from any Linked Site. This Practice is providing these links to you only as a convenience, and the inclusion of any link does not imply endorsement by this Practice of the site or any association with its operators.


NO UNLAWFUL OR PROHIBITED USE


As a condition of your use of this Practice website, you warrant to this Practice that you will not use this Practice website for any purpose that is unlawful or prohibited by these terms, conditions, and notices. You may not use this Practice website in any manner which could damage, disable, overburden, or impair this Practice website or interfere with any other party's use and enjoyment of this Practice website. You may not obtain or attempt to obtain any materials or information through any means not intentionally made available or provided for through this Practice websites.


USE OF COMMUNICATION SERVICES


This Practice website may contain bulletin board services, chat areas, news groups, forums, communities, personal web pages, calendars, and/or other message or communication facilities designed to enable you to communicate with the public at large or with a group (collectively, "Communication Services"), you agree to use the Communication Services only to post, send and receive messages and material that are proper and related to the particular Communication Service.


By way of example, and not as a limitation, you agree that when using a Communication Service, you will not:


  • Defame, abuse, harass, stalk, threaten or otherwise violate the legal rights (such as rights of privacy and publicity) of others.
  • Publish, post, upload, distribute or disseminate any inappropriate, profane, defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent or unlawful topic, name, material or information.
  • Upload files that contain software or other material protected by intellectual property laws (or by rights of privacy of publicity) unless you own or control the rights thereto or have received all necessary consents.
  • Upload files that contain viruses, corrupted files, or any other similar software or programs that may damage the operation of another's computer.
  • Advertise or offer to sell or buy any goods or services for any business purpose, unless such Communication Service specifically allows such messages.
  • Conduct or forward surveys, contests, pyramid schemes or chain letters.
  • Download any file posted by another user of a Communication Service that you know, or reasonably should know, cannot be legally distributed in such manner.
  • Falsify or delete any author attributions, legal or other proper notices or proprietary designations or labels of the origin or source of software or other material contained in a file that is uploaded.
  • Restrict or inhibit any other user from using and enjoying the Communication Services.
  • Violate any code of conduct or other guidelines which may be applicable for any particular Communication Service.
  • Harvest or otherwise collect information about others, including e-mail addresses, without their consent.
  • Violate any applicable laws or regulations.


This Practice has no obligation to monitor the Communication Services. However, this Practice reserves the right to review materials posted to a Communication Service and to remove any materials in its sole discretion. This Practice reserves the right to terminate your access to any or all of the Communication Services at any time without notice for any reason whatsoever.Materials uploaded to a Communication Service may be subject to posted limitations on usage, reproduction and/or dissemination. You are responsible for adhering to such limitations if you download the materials.


LIABILITY DISCLAIMER


THE INFORMATION, SOFTWARE, PRODUCTS, AND SERVICES INCLUDED IN OR AVAILABLE THROUGH THIS PRACTICE WEBSITE MAY INCLUDE INACCURACIES OR TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS. CHANGES ARE PERIODICALLY ADDED TO THE INFORMATION HEREIN. THIS PRACTICE AND/OR ITS SUPPLIERS MAY MAKE IMPROVEMENTS AND/OR CHANGES IN THIS PRACTICE WEBSITE AT ANY TIME. ADVICE RECEIVED VIA THIS PRACTICE WEBSITE SHOULD NOT BE RELIED UPON FOR PERSONAL, MEDICAL, LEGAL OR FINANCIAL DECISIONS AND YOU SHOULD CONSULT AN APPROPRIATE PROFESSIONAL FOR SPECIFIC ADVICE TAILORED TO YOUR SITUATION.THIS PRACTICE AND/OR ITS SUPPLIERS MAKE NO REPRESENTATIONS ABOUT THE SUITABILITY, RELIABILITY, AVAILABILITY, TIMELINESS, AND ACCURACY OF THE INFORMATION, SOFTWARE, PRODUCTS, SERVICES AND RELATED GRAPHICS CONTAINED ON THIS PRACTICE WEBSITE FOR ANY PURPOSE. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ALL SUCH INFORMATION, SOFTWARE, PRODUCTS, SERVICES AND RELATED GRAPHICS ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OR CONDITION OF ANY KIND. THIS PRACTICE AND/OR ITS SUPPLIERS HEREBY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES AND CONDITIONS WITH REGARD TO THIS INFORMATION, SOFTWARE, PRODUCTS, SERVICES AND RELATED GRAPHICS, INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN NO EVENT SHALL THIS PRACTICE AND/OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, PUNITIVE, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS, ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS PRACTICE WEBSITE, WITH THE DELAY OR INABILITY TO USE THIS PRACTICE WEBSITE OR RELATED SERVICES, THE PROVISION OF OR FAILURE TO PROVIDE SERVICES, OR FOR ANY INFORMATION, SOFTWARE, PRODUCTS, SERVICES AND RELATED GRAPHICS OBTAINED THROUGH THIS PRACTICE WEBSITE, OR OTHERWISE ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF THIS PRACTICE WEBSITE, WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT, NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY OR OTHERWISE, EVEN IF THIS PRACTICE OR ANY OF ITS SUPPLIERS HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF DAMAGES. BECAUSE SOME STATES/JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, THE ABOVE LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. IF YOU ARE DISSATISFIED WITH ANY PORTION OF THIS PRACTICE WEBSITE, OR WITH ANY OF THESE TERMS OF USE, YOUR SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE REMEDY IS TO DISCONTINUE USING THIS PRACTICE WEBSITE.


COPYRIGHT AND TRADEMARK NOTICES


All contents of this website are Copyright © 2023 The Snoring & Sleep Apnea Center. All Rights Reserved. All logos are trademarks and service marks of The Snoring & Sleep Apnea Center. All other trademarks, service marks and logos used in this website are the property of their respective owners.


TRADEMARKS


The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.The example companies, organizations, products, people and events depicted herein are fictitious. No association with any real company, organization, product, person, or event is intended or should be inferred.Any rights not expressly granted herein are reserved.


NOTICES



Please contact us by phone at 206-770-0260 or by mail at 2101 4th Ave, Ste 2330, Seattle, WA 98121.