Treatment

treatment_pictureWho might benefit from oral appliance therapy?

  • Patients with primary snoring or mild OSA who do not respond to, or are not candiates for treatments, such as weight loss or change in sleep position.
  • Patients with moderate to severe OSA who have initially tried nasal CPAP and are intolerant.
  • Patients who refuse treatment with nasal CPAP.

 

How Does a Dental Sleep Appliance Work?

Dental appliances provide an effective, conservative approach to managing snoring and other breathing problems by:

  1. Bringing the lower jaw open and forward
  2. Holding the tongue forward
  3. Lifting the drooping soft palate

 

What are the steps involved in Oral Appliance Therapy?

  • It involves the selection, design, fitting, and use of a custom designed oral appliance that is worn during sleep.
  • Both short and long-term follow up is an essential step in the treatment of snoring and OSA.
  • We will assess the treatment of your sleep disorder and the condition of your appliance, to ensure that it is comfortable and effective.

There are 80+ types of mandibular repositioners. All maintain airway patency by holding the mandible (lower jaw) in a protruded position during sleep. Many can be adjusted quickly and easily, offering clear advantages to patients in terms of cost, effectiveness, comfort and ease of use.

Tongue retaining devices are particularly helpful for those patients who have temporomandibular joint dysfunction. These devices hold the tongue in a forward position during sleep – without placing stress on the teeth or TM joint.