Obstructive sleep apnea is a sleeping disorder that causes interruptions in a person’s breathing while they take a nap or when they go to sleep. Dental devices are often used to aid sleep apnea. Apart from lifestyle changes, doctors may suggest oral appliances therapy and certain dental devices for sleep apnea.
Can Sleep Apnea Be Treated With Dental Appliances?
The answer is, yes. An oral appliance will improve your sleep apnea. but might not completely control it.
For patients with mild to moderate sleep apnea, dental devices or oral mandibular advancement devices, push your lower jaw forward which prevents the tongue from blocking the throat and causing breathing issues, as these devices keep the airway open during sleep.
It is important to note that even though oral appliances can help with sleep apnea, they are not the final solution. The only two ways to solve this problem are to either undergo surgery or lose weight.
What Are The Different Types Of Dental Devices For Sleep Apnea?
When it comes to options in oral appliances there are quite a few to choose from with varying results.
- The mandibular advancement device (MAD), is the most used device. It resembles mouth guards used in sports. This device allows the lower jaw to relax in a forward position.
- The tongue retaining device, which is less commonly used than the MAD, is a splint that holds the tongue in place to keep the airways open. Although sometimes ridiculed for its somewhat pacifier-like appearance, it has proven to reduce snoring up to 68% in some users.
- Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), is designed to keep your throat open and is more reliably effective than oral devices, even then some people might find it cumbersome to use. You might have to try a few different masks to find one that’s comfortable.
What Is The Best Dental Appliance For Sleep Apnea?
When it comes to sleep apnea treatments, CPAP oral device, or continuous positive airway pressure device is your best shot at treating sleep apnea issues. It can be helpful for severe and even moderate levels of sleep apnea. This machine prevents your airways from collapsing.
It is considered to be the gold standard treatment of sleep apnea, easily making it the best oral sleep apnea appliance.
Even so, some people might prefer mandibular advancement devices (MAD) as they are easier to use and get used to.
How Do I Get A Dental Appliance For Sleep Apnea?
If you decide that you want to get a dental device like MAD for your sleep apnea, you will have to get a referral to an appropriate dentist for an evaluation. The dentist will decide if you’re eligible for this treatment and will make an impression on your teeth.
If all goes well the dentist will make your device and call you in for a fitting. You might have to go back to your dentist for further adjustments to optimise care.
And if you decide that you would rather go for a CPAP device, you’ll have to:
- Visit your doctor. Discuss the symptoms you’re experiencing and they might give you a better idea as to what treatment to provide.
- Sleep apnea test. Your physician might recommend an at-home sleep test or a lab test. These sleep tests take place overnight in a sleep lab while connected to various machines to monitor for apneas.
- Once you have your CPAP prescription you can easily hop online and get yourself a CPAP machine.
How Much Do They Cost?
If you’re wondering how much these devices cost, well, the CPAP comes in various sizes and styles all priced differently depending upon brand and features. But usually, it will cost you anywhere from 250$ to even 1000$ or more.
Some of the more complex devices like the bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) devices can cost 1000$ to 3000$ and some even as high as 6000$.
Conclusion
In conclusion, depending on how much you’re willing to adjust, the CPAP is hands down the best option out there. Why so? Due to its reliable efficiency and effectiveness. However, the mask may be a hassle for many diagnosed with sleep apnea. An alternative to the CPAP would be an oral device such as the MAD. This is easier to use but less effective overall.
