Oral appliance therapy is a treatment that is devised for addressing sleep disorders such as snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. The treatment involves wearing a removable oral appliance in the mouth during sleep and letting the appliance work. The oral appliance would fit into the mouth more like retainers and mouth guards.
The oral appliance works by preventing the airway from collapsing by supporting the jawbone and holding the tongue in place. The patient would be provided with customized oral appliances for the device to be effective. The physician would diagnose the condition by conducting a sleep lab study on the patient. Based on the findings, the physician would provide you with the right oral appliance for your treatment.
WHAT HAPPENS DURING A SLEEP STUDY?
Sleep study allows the physician to evaluate the patient’s sleep patterns. It helps record the patient’s brain waves, heartbeats, breathing patterns, eye, and limb movements, and monitor the blood-oxygen levels. This helps generate a diagnosis and come up with a treatment plan.
TYPES OF ORAL APPLIANCES
Oral appliance sleep treatment is best advised for patients suffering from less severe cases of sleep apnea. There are several types of oral appliances designed to treat OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea) that fall under the below two categories:
Mandibular Respositing Devices (MAD)
They are the most popular type of oral appliances that help to treat obstructive sleep apnea. They function by repositioning your lower jaw and keeping the airway open while you sleep.
Tongue Retaining Devices
Tongue retaining oral appliances are used to hold the tongue in place to keep the airway open.
WHAT IS CPAP?
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure also abbreviated as CPAP is an effective treatment for sleep apnea. It is an instrument devised to keep the patient’s airway open at night by applying pressure down the throat. These machines are small and light-weighted. CPAPs allow you to sleep with ease relieving daytime drowsiness.
San Diego dentist, Dr. Abler offers patients with cosmetic solutions, Invisalign®, and implants. Request an appointment with Dr. Abler to understand more about oral appliance therapy at Aesthetic Dentistry. Call our office at 858-256-4088 or request an appointment online for your consultation.
