Oral appliances can help alleviate physical obstructions to airways and treat both snoring and sleep apnea symptoms effectively when combined with an official diagnosis and treatment plan from a physician. When combined with such measures, oral appliances provide an effective means of treatment.
Custom appliances designed like mouth guards are typically more comfortable for patients. This helps ensure more consistent retention of oxygen while minimizing potential fallout episodes or dislodgements.
Mandibular Advancement Devices (MAD)
Oral appliances work by moving the lower jaw forward to open up airways, thus eliminating physical blockages in the upper airway and snoring as well as breathing pauses during sleep – both of which may leave you feeling fatigued during the day, as well as keeping you from getting enough rest at night.
MADs have proven successful at treating obstructive sleep apnea and snoring, particularly among CPAP rejects – people who have tried but failed to use continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines that use tubing and masks to force air into a patient’s mouth during sleep to keep airway open during restful slumber. MADs tend not to be as intrusive than their counterparts and may be easier for individuals who grind their teeth or have other jaw or teeth issues that make CPAP machines hard for them.
MADs come in various varieties, so it is wise to consult an experienced dentist who can recommend one that will provide maximum comfort and effectiveness for you. You may be able to purchase MADs online or in stores; however, none will compare with custom-designed devices crafted using a scan or mold of your mouth and teeth.
Whenever using a MAD to treat sleep apnea, it’s essential that only wear it at bedtime – not during the day or while eating. Though you may experience temporary joint discomfort on first few nights of wearing, this should subside once your jaw adjusts to wearing the device. If any discomfort persists after getting used to wearing one, consult your dentist and discuss whether this is normal experience.
MADs (manual airway devices) may also help patients who experience difficulty sleeping by attaching to the base of the tongue and moving it slightly forward so as not to fall backwards into their throat during sleep. Tongue stabilizing devices tend to be more comfortable than MADs, and can even be used to treat snoring; in addition, they may prove useful after surgery such as Tonsillectomy/Adenoidectomy to stabilize and support recovery of their tongue during recovery period.
Tongue Retainer Devices (TRD)
Snoring is a common sleep disturbance that often results in lost rest; however, it could be signaling the presence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), an potentially serious medical condition which can lead to many health complications. Treatment for both conditions focuses on opening airways to avoid further snoring while increasing oxygen levels for better breathing and improved overall oxygen levels.
There are various mouthpieces designed to reduce snoring and treat obstructive sleep apnea. Two main categories are mandibular advancement devices and tongue retainer devices; mandibular advancement devices push forward the lower jaw to open airways; tongue retainers hold onto tongue to prevent it from falling back into throat and blocking airway passageways.
Tongue Retaining Devices (TRDs) are devices designed to hold the tongue forward in order to reduce snoring and potentially improve breathing and blood circulation during sleep. Resembling something resembling a sports mouthguard or baby pacifier, TRDs feature a cavity at their front that fits over your tongue for easier support while sleeping. They typically made from durable yet flexible plastic material that are custom fitted specifically to each user.
One key thing to keep in mind when wearing a tongue stabilizing device is that it may cause you to drool excessively while sleeping, due to your tongue being held open while you slumber and producing excess saliva in your mouth. Therefore, it’s advisable to rinse frequently with warm water while wearing this device and use gentle mouthwashes such as Listerine(r) to keep drooling at bay.
An exhaustive clinical study with patients who used tongue retaining devices demonstrated significant improvements to both snoring and obstructive sleep apnea symptoms, with reduced mean respiratory disturbance index scores and an improvement in Epworth Sleepiness Scale scores.
Although oral appliances can help treat snoring and obstructive apnea, they cannot treat UARS related upper airway resistance syndrome; thus only certain insurance plans cover them. If you suffer from snoring and want more information on its benefits, schedule a meeting with either your dentist or healthcare provider today!
Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT)
Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT) involves wearing a custom-fit oral appliance designed to prevent tongue collapsing and support lower jaw alignment for more open airway access, thus leading to restful sleep, which in turn alleviates symptoms associated with snoring and obstructive sleep apnea such as daytime fatigue, headaches and difficulty focusing. OAT may also reduce risks related to heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and stroke.
Many different obstructive sleep apnea oral appliances are currently on the market, including both ready-made, titratable appliances, and custom-made, adjustable appliances. Studies consistently demonstrate that custom-made titratable appliances produce more effective results in terms of both severity and normalizing AHI when compared with ready-made appliances which only allow fixed mandibular advancement. While titration requires wearing it until adjusted to, its long-term advantages include decreased discomfort levels and improved patient adherence with OAT.
Custom-designed titratable oral appliances are more comfortable to wear, resulting in increased patient compliance and positive experiences with OAT treatment, both essential elements for successful outcomes.
One key element in achieving an optimal result is controlling the level of mandibular advancement. This process is managed using apnea-prevention parameters in the titration process and resting levels of activity from right masseter, left masseter, genioglossus, and geniohyoid muscles; excessive advancement may lead to obstructive bite problems, interferences, and/or excessive discomfort.
Finally, a custom-made titratable sleep apnea mouthguard is easy to keep clean and requires no electricity or batteries – making it much more portable and practical than CPAP which must remain charged and can be difficult to transport when travelling due to its cumbersome tubes and water reservoirs.
Custom-made oral appliances can be far cheaper than CPAP machines and in many cases even covered by medical insurance plans. Contact our Collingswood office now and see if an oral apnea mouthpiece could be your ideal solution!
CPAP
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy increases air pressure in your throat to keep the airway from collapsing when breathing in, providing a common treatment for obstructive sleep apnea as well as helping stop snoring and reduce blood pressure.
CPAP is often the go-to treatment for OSA and can be very effective; however, getting used to this device may take some time and everyone responds differently. If CPAP doesn’t seem suitable, other approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which teaches new behaviors that improve sleep quality, or bright light therapy may be worth exploring as alternatives.
There are various styles of CPAP masks to choose from. A nasal mask typically sits over the nose with prongs that insert into each nostril; other styles cover either mouth or nose, or full face coverage; it is important to find one that is comfortable and fits you properly; if you experience difficulty adapting, talk with your physician or try changing up the mask you use until finding one you can manage better.
A CPAP machine may be used on its own or combined with other treatments such as oral appliances or surgery for certain patients. Other methods that may be combined with CPAP include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to change behaviors that interfere with sleep; bright light therapy to regulate circadian rhythm; or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
In some instances, CPAP machines may cause an increase in your blood pressure. If this is causing concern for you, consult a physician immediately as they can check both your blood pressure and assess any associated cardiovascular disease risk factors.
First step to getting a CPAP prescription: make an appointment with your physician who will evaluate your symptoms and refer you for a titration study or overnight sleep study if necessary. If a titration study shows evidence of sleep apnea, most physicians will most likely prescribe a CPAP machine; depending on your symptoms and insurance guidelines you might also require specialist referral or be able to purchase one over-the-counter.
