If you’ve been diagnosed with sleep apnea or related sleep and snoring issues and aren’t sure what to do, help may be available from a San Diego Dentist Association member. If you’re tired of CPAP, find it difficult to use or don’t get good results from it, there may be a smarter way to deal with your obstructive sleep apnea. Useful, proven sleep apnea appliances are available from our featured San Diego dental offices.
You may not realize that these oral appliances are a sensible alternative if you have mild or moderate sleep apnea. These simple devices are small pieces of plastic that you put inside your mouth when you’re getting ready for bed, similar to a retainer or sports mouthguard. But instead of offering protection for your teeth, a sleep apnea oral appliance keeps your tongue from falling backward or sideways, naturally opening your airway and making it easier to breathe. This type of appliance can sometimes help with sleep apnea even when CPAP can’t and can be used in conjunction with CPAP if desired.
A custom-made oral appliance may be the right solution if you have these conditions:
- Snoring that has not been diagnosed as sleep apnea
- Mild obstructive sleep apnea that has not responded well to behavioral modification therapy
- Moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea and want better results than with CPAP
- Moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea and cannot use or don’t get good results from CPAP
- Moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea and you cannot for whatever reason have surgical treatment like tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, tracheostomy or craniofacial surgery.
Oral Appliance Therapy For Sleep Apnea
Oral sleep apnea appliances improve the ability to breathe while asleep by helping keep the airway open and the throat free of obstruction, but for good results the appliance must be custom-made for you. A dental sleep specialist like one of the SDDA dentists can help you with your oral appliance.
The process of getting the appliance made may involve several exams and fittings, and there may be choices to make about what type of appliance is best for you. Because this is not an exact science, this should not be considered a quick fix and adjustments may be necessary to find the best treatment in your situation. Follow-up appointments will help track progress and success.
You may want to consider speaking with a dentist about an oral sleep apnea appliance for the following reasons:
- They’re comfortable. After using one of these devices for a few days, you may not even notice it in your mouth anymore and can sleep peacefully.
- They’re small. They’re an easy choice for travel instead of a bulky CPAP machine.
- They’re non-invasive. You don’t need surgery if oral appliance therapy is successful.
Here are some specifics about how an oral sleep apnea appliance works to help keep your tongue where it should be:
- It moves your tongue as well as your uvula and the soft palate into proper positioning so that your airway stays open all night.
- It strengthens your tongue’s muscles so that the tongue is less prone to falling into the wrong position.
- It helps keep your lower jaw in position as you adjust your sleeping position so that your mouth remains in a healthy, sleep-friendly position.
Sleep Apnea Appliance Types
There are primarily two types of oral appliances used for sleep issues, and your SDDA dentist can determine which is best for you after your full exam. Each category has within it several variations, but the primary categories are:
- Tongue-retaining appliances. These are like suction bulbs that move the tongue forward and therefore stop the back of the mouth from closing up, obstructing the airway, and creating sleep disturbances.
- Mandibular-retaining appliances. These shift the jaw forward during sleep, stabilizing the jaw in a position that allows the throat to stay open.
Additionally, CPAP machines are sometimes prescribed by sleep specialists to manage sleep apnea. These machines force air into your mouth through a mask and under pressure. It may also be suggested that you try dietary and behavioral changes, weight loss, and changes in sleep position to help resolve sleep issues. If nothing else works, surgery to remove excess tissue can make a big difference.
To learn more about sleep apnea appliances and to find a dentist who can help you with sleep issues and many other overall wellness concerns, reach out to a San Diego Dentist Association professional today. Every oral and overall health concern has a solution, and they can help you find it.
