1 IN 12 PEOPLE suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and one effective treatment option is oral appliance therapy. In oral appliance therapy like what Dr. Burman provides at Snoring and Sleep Apnea Therapy LLC, we make a custom oral appliance that fits over your teeth like an orthodontic retainer to wear while you sleep. It supports your jaw in a forward position to keep your airway clear.
Custom Oral Appliances
Using a custom-fit oral appliance can improve the quality of your sleep, restoring your alertness and revitalizing your health. If you are a candidate for oral appliance therapy, your doctor will write a prescription and refer you to Dr. Burman for your custom-fit oral appliance. Ongoing treatment will ensure that it remains comfortable and effective against snoring and OSA symptoms.
The Advantages of Oral Appliances
Oral appliance therapy has significant advantages over some of the other options for treating OSA. It is effective and non-invasive and fits easily into your lifestyle. Some of the reasons patients like this treatment method include:
- Appliances are easy to wear. For most patients it takes a few weeks to get used to sleeping with an oral appliance.
- They are quiet. Unlike continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines, oral appliances are completly silent.
- They are portable. Oral appliances can be easily stored and carried for travel, much like a retainer.
- They are convenient. It’s very easy to put them in and take them out.
- They are comfortable. Oral appliances are custom-made to fit the unique curves of your teeth.
- They are easy to care for. All it takes to keep an oral appliance clean is soap or dish detergent and warm (not hot) water. Don’t use toothpaste,
- which can scratch the surface, but do brush your teeth before putting your appliance in for the night.
Types of Oral Appliances
At Snoring and Sleep Apnea Therapy LLC, Dr. Burman offers two different types of custom oral appliances:
Mandibular Advancement Devices (MAD)
A mandibular advancement device resembles mouthguards worn by athletes. They snap comfortably into place over your upper and lower arches. Their metal hinges carefully push your lower jaw forward. For some patients, Dr. Burman may also recommend a Thornton Adjustable Positioner (TAP). This is a device that allows you to control how far it pushes your jaw forward.
Tongue-Retaining Devices
In OSA, the tongue collapses against the back of the throat, causing the soft palate to collapse and close off the airway. A tongue-retaining device holds the tongue away from the back of the throat so that it can’t interfere with breathing. These devices are less common than MADs.
Living With Oral Appliance Therapy
If you’ve struggled with OSA, finally treating it can make you feel like a new person. Remaining committed to your treatment and using it every night can lead to dramatic improvements in your quality of life, with better sleep, more energy, and a sharper mind. It can even improve the quality of sleep of a spouse or partner by reducing the amount of snoring!
Oral appliance therapy can help you achieve a healthier body and mind. Contact us to learn more about the appliances we provide. You can also learn more about us on our business page, and make sure to get directions to our office.