Does your partner snore loudly while sleeping or do you receive complaints of snoring which also messes with your sleep quality? Then chances are high that you suffer from sleep apnea. Underestimating this condition can lead to severe health complications in the future.
Thankfully, there are various oral appliances now that make treating sleep apnea a piece of cake. Below are a few noteworthy benefits of this method;
- Comfortable and effective alternative
- Hassle-free and doesn’t disrupt regular lifestyle
- Helps reposition the muscles of the mouth
- Efficient and quick results
The importance of dental devices for sleep apnea treatment is manifold. Keep on reading to discover how it helps accelerate your recovery and completely eradicate sleep disorders.
Traditional Approach to Curing Sleep Apnea
Typically, using a CPAP machine is the most common approach for treating sleep apnea by a sleep specialist. It’s a device you need to keep next to your bed that pumps air via a mask to keep the airway open.
CPAP machines are effective for most variants like obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea. However, it might feel uncomfortable to sleep apnea patients who are experiencing mild or moderate OSA. Furthermore, they are not portable like a mouth guard.
Receiving treatment through a CPAP machine is ideal for those suffering from a serious sleep disorder. It keeps a lot of health problems in check and improves breathing patterns by keeping the upper airway open. Thus, it’s a good choice for people with severe OSA.
However, not all sleep apnea patients can tolerate CPAP treatment. In that case, it’s not perfectly normal for them to look for alternatives to treat sleep apnea. Using mouth guards or a tongue-retaining device is perfect for those with moderate sleep apnea.
Types of Dental Devices to Cure Sleep Apnea
There are various kinds of mouth guards that can help treat OSA and function as an excellent alternative to CPAP therapy. Below are the three primary dental appliances that are perfect for oral appliance therapy and provide sleep apnea treatment.
Mouth Guard Devices
A mouth guard is an extremely efficient dental device for curing sleep apnea. It’s also affordable since each of these models cost below $100. People find mouth guards to be the ideal option for oral appliance therapy if they suffer from central sleep apnea due to it being hassle-free.
Unlike CPAP machines, a mouth guard has a very analog approach to providing oral appliance therapy for curing sleep apnea. It easily adjusts to your lower jaw once you bite down on it after placing it in boiling water. Once it settles down, it adjusts the lower jaw, which helps prevent loud snoring.
Using a mouthguard for sleep apnea treatment is one of the best oral appliances for those suffering from mild sleep apnea. It’s one of the best treatment options for those who prefer an oral device that can significantly improve their sleeping quality without affecting their daily life.
Mandibular Advancement Device
Similar to a mouth guard, a mandibular repositioning device strives to cure sleep apnea by focusing on the structure of your mouth. This form of oral appliance therapy works constantly once you put it on yourself and is effective for eradicating obstructive sleep apnea.
One thing to keep in mind before opting for such dental appliances is to consult a sleep specialist first. Only those with the proper certification can provide you with this oral appliance treatment in a safe manner.
Mandibular advancement devices are different from mouth guards in the sense that they affect both the top and bottom portions of the mouth. Its metal hinges help push the lower jaw forward and stop you from snoring.
This dental device requires custom-building to cater to the form of your face. Therefore, consult a proper sleep physician before opting for such treatment options. Unlike mouth guards, you won’t find mandibular advancement devices for sale on the market.
Tongue Retaining Devices
Tongue-retaining devices feel like a medieval approach in comparison to the treatment options for sleep apnea previously mentioned here. This oral appliance is essentially a plastic splint that keeps the tongue out of the mouth while a person sleeps.
Exercise caution while selecting this OSA treatment option can be very uncomfortable. It causes you to experience a dry mouth due and feel uncomfortable due to the forward position of the tongue throughout the night.
How Can We Help?
Residents of Houston, Texas can rest easy if they are looking for other treatments other than traditional CPAP therapy. We, here at Vivos strive to serve as your companion throughout the entire oral appliance therapy process.
Our services range from diagnosing sleep apnea to providing the appropriate oral appliance. The approach we take to treating OSA focuses on clearing your upper airway and not affecting your sleeping position.
Vivos provides comprehensive treatment plans that are more effective than that of a primary care provider. Adopting our oral appliances will eradicate sleep apnea without causing discomfort in the lower jaw.
Soon enough, you will notice an improvement in your sleep quality and experience less daytime sleepiness. Vivos treatments not only help improve blood oxygen levels, but it also relieves continuous positive airway pressure.
It’s more comfortable than typical oral appliances like a mandibular advancement splint. Our mouth guards prevent daytime sleepiness while also not affecting your central nervous system.
Conclusion
Leaving sleep apnea unchecked can lead to a plethora of issues including heart disease and high blood pressure. The importance of dental devices for sleep apnea treatment is unparalleled among those who do not have a bed partner or the time to partake in a sleep study.
Although the effects are not instantaneous with these devices like mouth guards, they gradually eliminate the effects of sleep apnea. Soon, you will notice a reduction in daytime sleepiness and an improvement in blood oxygen levels.
Many people often consume dental sleep medicine to eradicate obstructive sleep apnea. However, they can cause a lot of health complications in the future. On the other hand, opting for a mouth guard is risk-free and completely eliminates sleep apnea.
