What Type of Oral Appliance is Right for My Sleep Apnea Treatment?

If you have obstructive sleep apnea, you have multiple treatment options. While CPAP therapy is still the most widely prescribed, oral appliance therapy is quickly becoming the most popular because it is simpler to use and more comfortable for patients. Oral appliances are provided by specialized doctors called sleep dentists, and today, we’re going to cover the different kinds of appliances they use for sleep apnea treatment.

Oral Appliance Therapy Basics

If you are unfamiliar with oral appliance therapy, it involves a patient wearing a custom-made mouthpiece to bed each night to help alleviate their sleep apnea symptoms. It is created using a mold of the patient’s teeth so that it fits comfortably in the mouth. In order for this method to be effective, a doctor has to have a deep working knowledge of craniofacial anatomy, which is exactly what a sleep dentist has.

With this understanding of how the teeth, mouth, and airway work together, they’re able to design oral appliances that keep these elements balanced so a patient can breathe peacefully throughout the night. In addition to treating sleep apnea, they can also be used to stop snoring.

The Different Types of Oral Appliances

There are a wide variety of oral appliances, and each one of them is designed to solve a certain set of problems. One might be solely for treating sleep apnea, while another might be for sleep apnea and teeth grinding (which is a very common side effect). Overall, oral appliances fall into three main categories:

• Jaw/mandibular repositioning devices: These prevent sleep apnea symptoms by gently shifting the jaw forward, preventing the soft tissues in the mouth and throat from collapsing into the airway.
• Tongue retaining devices: These keep the tongue in a neutral position so it cannot block the airway.
• Hybrid devices: These both shift the jaw and keep the tongue in place at the same time.

Some of the most popular oral appliances include those made by SomnoMed®, The Narval, and the Herbst appliance. A sleep dentist will be familiar with a range of appliances so they can find the one that perfectly suits a patient.

Which One is Right For Me?

That is both up to your doctor and a sleep dentist. Your doctor first needs to make sure that you are a candidate for oral appliance therapy, and then a sleep dentist can determine which kind of appliance is best for you after a short examination. After that, they’ll take an impression of your teeth, send it to a lab, and your appliance should be available after a week or so. Once you start wearing it, you should feel the benefits almost immediately when it comes to your sleep quality.

If you are interested in getting oral appliance therapy, simply talk to your doctor or contact a sleep dentist in your area, and they’ll help you find the right solution for your sleep. With their help, you’ll soon be waking up in the morning full of energy again.

About the Author

Dr. Kenneth Mogell is a certified sleep dentist based in Jupiter, FL. At his practice, Florida Dental Sleep Disorders, he uses a large array of oral appliances to provide his patients with personalized, effective sleep apnea therapy. To learn more about everything you’ve just read, he can be contacted through his website or by phone at (561) 744-4478.