Obstructive Sleep Apnea Appliances
What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
Obstructive sleep apnea is a common, chronic condition that occurs when your muscles relax during sleep, allowing the soft tissue to collapse and block the airway. This can cause you to stop breathing for seconds or upwards of a minute numerous times throughout the night.
OSA is characterized by daytime sleepiness, loud snoring, gasping for air during sleep, irritability and dry mouth and can be connected to significant health risks including high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and stroke. If you experience any of these symptoms, it is important to consult a medical physician for a sleep study and a property diagnosis.
How Does a Dental Sleep Appliance Help?
While a dentist cannot diagnose obstructive sleep apnea, our office offers a custom oral appliance designed to open the airway while you sleep, as an alternative treatment to a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine.
The oral appliance positions the lower jaw forward to help prevent airway obstruction and is much quieter, and smaller than a CPAP machine. If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea and would like to be evaluated to determine if an oral appliance is an option for you, please contact our office today. We would love to help you achieve better sleep and improved health!
FAQ: Obstructive Sleep Apnea Appliances
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The oral appliance is also known as a mandibular advancement device. It is inserted in the mouth right before going to bed and worn for the duration of the evening.
The device fits over the upper and lower teeth, and puts the lower jaw in a forward position. This prevents the tongue and soft palate from falling back, therefore opening the airway.
The device is custom made and titratable to help achieve optimal comfort and effectiveness.
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While dentists are not able to officially diagnose sleep apnea, they can screen patients and are often some of the first people to identify symptoms and advise patients of an increased risk of developing the condition.
A primary care physician or sleep specialist is able to provide a definitive diagnosis following a sleep study.
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Oral appliance therapy is most effective for individuals with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea, or for patients who cannot tolerate a CPAP machine. The appliance is also a convenient and portable alternative to a CPAP machine for patients who travel frequently and don’t want to take their machine.
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To help avoid any bite changes from wearing the advancement device nightly, a morning repositioner will be made. This will be worn each morning for a short time to help guide the teeth back to the natural position.
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Yes, a current sleep study is absolutely necessary prior to discussing any oral appliance therapy.
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—Will S.
Dr. MAC and her team set me up with the Panthera sleep appliance and it’s been a great help in relieving my snoring and sleep apnea issues. No large face contraption is a huge perk as well. Thanks Parkview Dental!
Give us a call to schedule your consultation for an obstructive sleep apnea appliance!
Give us a call at 828-252-3591, or get the process started by filling out our online appointment request below.
A team member will get back to you shortly to finalize any and all details with you directly as well as confirm your next appointment with us.