Oral Appliance Therapy is a Custom-Made Sleep Apnea Treatment
For a long time, there were only two options when it came to sleep apnea treatment. The first, and still the most often prescribed, is CPAP therapy. The other is corrective surgery. For those who don’t want to wear a loud, uncomfortable machine to bed every night or go through invasive oral surgery, The Columbus Sleep Center is able to offer a viable third option that is being used by more and more doctors around the country: oral appliance therapy.
With oral appliance therapy, all a patient has to do to get relief from their sleep apnea is wear a custom-made mouthguard to bed each night. It’s just that simple! The appliance gently shifts the jaw forward and keeps the tongue in a neutral position, and this prevents the airway from becoming blocked during the night. And, it is also effective at stopping snoring.
Whether you’ve been diagnosed with sleep apnea and still need treatment or simply want a CPAP alternative, this page will tell you everything you need to know about oral appliance therapy and how it can help you finally get the sleep you deserve.
Is Oral Appliance Therapy Right For You?
Oral appliance therapy might be a good option for you if:
- You are suffering from mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
- You have had surgery to treat your sleep apnea and it did not achieve the desired result.
- You require sleep apnea treatment but are CPAP intolerant.
- You snore and are at risk of developing sleep apnea in the future.
- You travel often and need a sleep apnea treatment that is portable.
- You could benefit from combined therapy.
How Oral Appliance Therapy Works
Oral appliance therapy utilizes the same basic principle as CPR: if the airway is blocked, a simple way to clear it is to shift the jaw forward. This is actually what our oral appliances do. This small movement prevents the soft tissues in the mouth and throat from relaxing into the airway, allowing a patient to breathe normally while they sleep. Other types of oral appliances also keep the tongue in a neutral position as well.
While most patients find oral appliance therapy to be much more comfortable compared to using a CPAP machine, there will still be a bit of an adjustment period when a person begins treatment. A patient may initially experience:
- Soreness in the jaw
- Changes in how the bite feels
- Tender or sensitive teeth and gums
- An increase or decrease in saliva production
- A change in the jaw’s resting position
All of these will subside in time, but if they don’t, a patient can simply contact The Columbus Sleep Center to have their appliance adjusted.
Our Selection of Oral Appliances
Every oral appliance we provide is made for a specific patient. This is in order to ensure its comfort and effectiveness, as each patient’s teeth, mouth, and symptoms are different. Our oral appliances are manufactured by some of the most popular and trusted brands used today, and they are all made with only the most flexible and durable materials. When a patient comes to see us, we will discuss their different oral appliance options so they and Dr. Buck can select the one that is best for them.
Learn More About Our Oral Appliance Options
A Word from the AASM, AADSM, and the ASBA
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine (AADSM), and the American Sleep and Breathing Academy (ASBA) are all longstanding professional organizations that set the standards for sleep apnea care here in the United States. They also provide continuing education, certifications, and training for both general doctors and dentists alike who want to become more familiar and skilled at helping people overcome sleep apnea.
Our own Dr. Eric Buck is currently a member of the AADSM, which has helped him stay on top of the latest breakthroughs in the field of sleep apnea treatment. He attends courses provided by them and other organizations every year in order to improve his knowledge and quality of care.
Each of these organizations has basic recommendations a patient should keep in mind if they are considering/using oral appliance therapy:
- A patient who snores loudly every night should still seek out treatment even if they do NOT currently have sleep apnea. Those who chronically snore are much more likely to develop a sleep disorder in the future, but with oral appliance therapy, a dentist can help prevent this problem before it even occurs.
- While there are many generic sleep appliances that are available either in stores or online, patients should only use those provided by a certified sleep dentist such as Dr. Buck. Non-custom sleep appliances are made to fit a wide range of people, which often causes them to be uncomfortable, ineffective, and even make sleep apnea symptoms worse.
- If a patient is either unwilling or unable to use their CPAP machine consistently, they should consult their sleep doctor and ask if oral appliance therapy would be a viable alternative.
- Once a patient has started using an oral appliance, they will need to periodically visit their sleep dentist in order to make sure the device is effectively providing relief from symptoms and is in good working order.
- After a patient has received their oral appliance, they will need to undergo a sleep study so their sleep doctor can determine whether or not the appliance is actually helping with their sleep apnea.
- Those who are using oral appliance therapy should stay in contact with both their sleep doctor and sleep dentist in order to make sure their disorder is under control.
At The Columbus Sleep Center, we’re able to change people’s lives for the better every day thanks to oral appliance therapy. If you would be interested in using oral appliance therapy to treat your sleep apnea, please contact us today to schedule a consultation.
More to Explore
What is Sleep Apnea? Types of Oral Appliances Combined Therapy View What We Do