Oral and Dental Devices for Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

In people with mild to moderate sleep apnea who cannot use  CPAP due to discomfort or some other reason, an option would be to use an oral or dental sleep apnea device or appliance. CPAP is more effective but an oral device is easier to use. Your dentist or orthodontist will provide you with various designs and you will have to choose one that fits you the best.

Using a remedy for sleep apnea is a must because  dangers and effects  of sleep apnea can be very serious.

A periodic follow-up every six months with your dentist is necessary to ensure that the mouthpiece or device still fits well and to review the  improvement of your symptoms and signs.

Sleep Apnea Mouthpiece.

The sleep apnea mouthpiece or oral device adjusts the position of your lower jaw and tongue so that your airway stays open and you breathe comfortably when sleeping. It does so by bringing the lower jaw forward or may move the position forward of the tongue and soft palate or may do both. This helps to stop your snoring and also keep the airway open to facilitate proper breathing.

Such oral or dental devices have shown better long-term control of sleep apnea.

Picture of sleep apnea oral and dental appliance.

Sleep apnea oral and dental device1 Sleep Apnea Equipment Oral and Dental Devices.

There are many designs and makes available and the two most commonly used oral devices are:

  • Mandibular repositioning device or mandibular advancement device(MAD). This is the most commonly used device and resembles a sports mouth guard. It forces the lower jaw forward and downward slightly and this helps to keep the airway open.
  • Tongue retaining device(TRD). This is a custom-made oral device or splint which holds the tongue in place and does not allow it fall backwards and obstruct the airway, thereby helping you to breathe normally. It takes a little longer time to get used to TRD and therefore the MAD scores on this point

How to use:

These oral devices for sleep apnea are simply inserted and fitted into your mouth when you are going to lie down to sleep. They are removed in the morning when you wake. They are used only during sleeping time.

Benefits of Oral /Dental Devices.

  • Higher compliance than CPAP.
  • Significant reduction of apneas in mild to moderate cases resulting in improved sleep.
  • Reduction of snoring

Side Effects of Oral Devices.

Many people experience no discomfort but some common side effects include

  • Excessive salivation.
  • Dry mouth
  • Tooth pain
  • Temporomandibular joint pain
  • Face pain.

If you experience any of these symptoms, do see your sleep specialist or the orthodontist  who will advise accordingly.

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Related posts:

  1. Apnea and Sleep Apnea – A Dangerous Sleep Disorder.
  2. How is Sleep Apnea Diagnosed.
  3. Sleep Apnea Symptoms and Signs.
  4. Surgery Treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
  5. How Do You Get Sleep Apnea.
  6. CPAP Machine for Sleep Apnea.
  7. Sleep Apnea Treatment and Cure.
  8. UPPP – Sleep Apnea Surgery.