The Pros and Cons of Using Oral Appliances to Treat Sleep Apnea

A condition that is becoming more common for Americans is sleep apnea that refers to the frequent interruptions in breathing that be experienced during the night. The most common kind of this condition can be described as Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) that results from a obstruction in the airway. One method of treating this condition is to utilize oral devices. Learn more about two kinds of devices, their work, and the advantages and disadvantages of making use of them.

Mandibular Advancement Device (MAD)

The MAD is like an athletic mouthpiece in that it is affixed to the lower and upper teeth. It works by moving both the tongue and lower jaw just enough to keep the muscles in the throat from collapsing. This keeps your airway clear.
Tongue Retaining Mouthpieces

It is important to note that the MAD device and tongue-restraining mouthpiece are alike in appearance. The main difference is that the latter features small pockets that are placed inside the tongue. It is dependent on suction to keep its forward-facing position.

Due to its distinctive features The tongue retaining mouthpiece is a popular option by patients who don’t feel their jaw sufficiently moved.
The pros and cons of Oral Appliances

The oral appliance offers greater convenience than the traditional method of treating sleep apnea by using continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device There are benefits and disadvantages to using this approach.

The Pros

Here are the benefits of using dental appliances:

The most common complaint of patients using an CPAP machine is experiencing an itchy nose whenever they wake up. Patients who have an oral appliance that is custom-made do not experience this problem.
Since there aren’t any wires or cords making it easier to wear an oral device.
Its small size also makes it easy to carry.

Cons

Here are a few of the drawbacks of using these kinds of devices for treating apnea:

Patients may experience bouts or jaw pain soreness , or stiffness.
The jaw’s movement can cause tooth and gum discomfort.
Patients can experience increased saliva production or dry mouth.
The jaw’s position can be permanently changed permanently.
The final issue is that a reconstruction (crown or bridge) could be left untied and unstable.

If you believe you suffer from sleep breathing disorder, you should not hesitate to call your doctor for an appointment for a sleep test. In the event that you’re found to have sleep apnea your dentist at the local clinic can assist you in getting the sleep your body requires.