Oral Appliance Therapy
What is oral appliance therapy?
Oral appliance therapy is one of the treatments for snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. The appliance consists of two pieces that go over your upper and lower teeth, similar to an orthodontic retainer. You wear the appliance while you sleep, and it keeps your airway open.
There are two types of oral appliances that prevent soft tissues from covering the airway while you sleep: tongue-retaining devices and mandibular advancement devices. Tongue-retaining devices only prevent the tongue from falling backward over the airway.
Mandibular advancement devices, the preferred option, move your lower jaw forward. The slight change in jaw position enlarges the airway while also ensuring your tongue does not move backward while you sleep.
When should I consider oral appliance therapy?
You may choose oral appliance therapy as your first treatment for sleep apnea or snoring. Oral appliances are just as effective as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) for people with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea.
Many patients, however, begin their sleep apnea treatment with CPAP. Then they switch to oral appliance therapy when they are unable to tolerate CPAP.
In addition to discomfort from the mask and air pressure, patients often develop symptoms of CPAP intolerance, such as:
- Nasal congestion
- Skin, eye, or sinus irritation
- Bloating
- Headaches
You may also have ongoing drowsiness if CPAP isn’t working for you.
What happens before I get an oral appliance?
Dr. Christian will first evaluate your mouth and teeth to make sure you do not have any dental problems that could prevent you from using an oral appliance.
Then, through advanced technology Dr. Christian uses acoustic reflection to fully evaluate your airways and ensure your oral appliance is as effective as possible.
Moreover you receive the best-fitting oral appliance because here at the The Sleep & TMJ Group we use digital impressions to produce precise impressions of your upper and lower teeth.
What type of oral appliance might I receive?
There are many different brands of mandibular advancement devices, but they fall into two categories, long-term and short-term:
Long-term oral appliances
Long-term oral appliances are stronger, made of materials that resist odors and staining, and last 3-7 years.
It takes 3-6 appointments to get a finished, long-term oral appliance; the long-term appliance has advantages including:
- It’s custom fabricated at a qualified, professional lab
- Its custom contours are less bulky
- It’s designed to allow fine adjustments
- It’s adjustable in every direction for optimal fit and comfort
The team at the The Sleep & TMJ Group will choose the type of appliance that’s best for you to create a one-of-a-kind appliance that harmonizes with your mouth for the long term.
Short-term oral appliances
You may want a short-term appliance when you need a quick, cost-effective option. Short-term appliances are also great if you tolerate CPAP, but you want a dental device to wear when you’re away from home and can’t take your CPAP with you.
Short-term sleep apnea appliances consist of a one-size-fits-all, plastic U-shaped shell. Your provider places the shell in hot water, which softens the plastic. Then the material is pressed over your teeth to create a better fit.
These appliances last only weeks to months and are not adjustable. However, they require less clinic time and require no lab processing.
To learn more about oral appliance therapy, call the The Sleep & TMJ Group to schedule an appointment today!
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