Sleep Apnea Treatment

What is Oral Appliance Therapy?

As the name suggests, this treatment revolves around wearing a specially designed-device that fits in your mouth while you sleep. When you have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), it means your breathing repeatedly stops and starts during the night due to the relaxation of throat muscles. An oral appliance prevents this by adjusting the position of your jaw or tongue and creating enough space in the throat so you can breathe without interruption.

The appliance itself looks somewhat similar to a sports mouthguard or orthodontic retainer. Depending on what type of obstruction you have, we may suggest either a mandibular advancement device (MAD) or a tongue-retaining device (TRD).A mandibular advancement device is custom-fitted to your mouth or jaw. Once in place, it gently pushes your lower jaw (and thus your tongue) slightly forward. This is crucial because the base of your tongue is one of the primary culprits in blocking the airway when the muscles relax during sleep. By advancing the lower jaw, MADs increase the space behind the tongue and at the back of the throat, which reduces the risk of airway collapse or obstruction during sleep.

A tongue-retaining device fits around your tongue using gentle suction. This holds the tongue in a forward position to eliminate a common cause of airway obstruction. Unlike MADs, which move the entire jaw, TRDs specifically target the tongue’s position. This can be especially helpful for people whose snoring or sleep apnea is primarily due to tongue positioning.

Regardless of what type of appliance you choose, it will not only minimize (or stop) the apnea episodes but also reduce the vibrations of the throat tissues that cause the sound of snoring from the very first night. As you start to get deeper sleep and a stable supply of oxygen every night, you will begin noticing a drastic change in your mood, focus, and energy levels as well.

How Our Sleep Apnea Treatment Works

Here at Patel Sleep Solutions, we have streamlined the process to make it as smooth and supportive as possible. If you have been diagnosed with mild to moderate sleep apnea, and cannot tolerate CPAP, a personalized dental appliance might be what you need to end your battle with OSA once and for all.

Step 1: Your Initial Appointment
Schedule a consultation with one of our certified dental sleep practitioners today. During this visit, rather than relying solely on self-assessments, we conduct a thorough physical examination of your oral anatomy. This can include a CBCT scan (Cone Beam Computed Tomography) to get a highly detailed 3D image of your oral and maxillofacial structure. This allows us to understand the anatomy of your airway, the positioning of your teeth, and the jawbone structure.

Step 2: At-Home Sleep Testing Made Easy
It’s a common misconception that you need to spend a night at a hospital or a sleep lab to diagnose whether you have a sleep-related breathing disorder. We can help you arrange a home sleep study that you can complete in the comfort of your own bed. This test will gather essential data on your breathing, oxygen levels, and more, which will arm us with the insights needed to craft a treatment plan tailored just for you.

Step 3: Creating Your Treatment Plan
With your sleep test data in hand, our board-certified sleep medicine dentists meticulously analyze the results. We then sit down with you to go over everything, discuss your diagnosis, and explore the different types of appliance options. For a well-rounded treatment, we coordinate with your primary care physician, ENT practitioner, and other specialists. This way, we address every aspect of your health as well as any underlying concerns.

Step 4: Fabricating and Fitting an Oral Appliance
If we’re sure you will benefit from a dental appliance, only then we proceed to the next step. Instead of traditional putty impressions that most dentists use, we utilize an intra-oral camera to capture thousands of high-resolution images of your teeth and gums in minutes. These images are then stitched together to create a highly accurate 3D model of your mouth. It’s quick, comfortable, and provides a perfect digital impression for creating your custom appliance.