Sleep apnea is a health condition that causes patients to experience abnormal breathing during sleep. Moderate to severe sleep apnea can even cause repetitive and prolonged pauses in breathing. Patients experience a lower quality of sleep, and the decreased oxygen levels can lead to serious health issues. There are oral appliances for sleep apnea that can greatly diminish symptoms.
Typically, doctors recommend a continuous positive airway pressure machine (CPAP) to treat sleep apnea. Yet, some patients find the CPAP uncomfortable and difficult to wear while sleeping. Oral appliances give patients an effective alternative to CPAP treatment.
How Does An Oral Appliance Work?
Oral appliances treat mild to moderate cases of obstructive sleep apnea. The device is custom-made by the Atlanta Smiles dental team. These mandibular devices shift the jaw forward to create an open airway and reduce obstruction. By opening the airway, the device improves breathing and reduces snoring.
While ready-made options are available, only custom devices offer the best treatment. We design custom devices using digital dental impressions to create the perfect fit for each patient.
What Are the Benefits of Oral Appliance Therapy?
Data shows patients experience positive results and reduced symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea by wearing an oral appliance during sleep.
Patients experience other benefits, including:
- A cost-effective alternative to CPAP machines
- Comfortable to wear
- Compact for travel
- It does not require a power source
- Quiet and less disruptive to others
- Allows movement in and out of bed without any cords
An oral appliance works with a CPAP machine or as an alternative treatment solution.
Reasons Patients Choose Oral Appliances For Sleep Apnea
Some patients prefer the oral appliance over the CPAP machine because of its ease of use. CPAP machines, while effective, require tubes and masks. The machine also needs cleaning and maintenance. An oral appliance is simple to wear.
Many patients find treatment success with oral appliances during travel. Lugging around a CPAP machine, even a travel-sized one, is inconvenient. An oral device works excellently for convenient travel. Plus, it’s essential to treat sleep apnea symptoms during travel to protect your health. When patients use an oral device at home, they can use the same device for travel.
Some patients do not feel comfortable sleeping while wearing the CPAP mask. In these cases, an oral appliance provides an alternative. Don’t let your sleep apnea go untreated simply because you don’t like the experience of using the CPAP. Instead, invest in a practical option.
Invest in Improved Sleep and Health
Sleep apnea is serious and can lead to many problems, from fatigue to heart disease. You deserve a treatment option that improves your health and quality of life—our dental team designs customized appliances for patients with sleep apnea. We work with you to find the right strategy to relieve your symptoms and help you achieve a good night’s sleep.
Dr. Kovitch has been treating sleep apnea with oral appliance therapy since 2011. She is board certified by the American academy of dental sleep medicine. There are many different designs for oral appliances and it is important that you recurve the one that will give you the best outcome and have the greatest chance of treatment success.
Regardless of your chosen intervention, managing obstructive sleep apnea symptoms relieves and improves health. Let us help you. Contact us to schedule a consultation.