Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder that occurs when a person’s breathing is interrupted during sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs when the upper airway is blocked either partly or completely during sleep. These episodes can interfere with sound sleep, reduce the flow of oxygen to vital organs, and cause heart rhythm problems. The preferred method of treating OSA is the CPAP machine, which may not be suitable for everyone. An alternative treatment is oral dental appliance therapy which resembles a mouth guard used by athletes, that prevents the tongue from blocking the throat and/or advance the lower jaw forward keeping the airway open during sleep. Your sleep specialist and our dentists with expertise in oral appliances can jointly determine if this treatment is best for you. The device is custom made from an impression of your teeth and further custom adjustments are made to optimize effectiveness. This non-invasive device is easy to use during sleep and can improve symptoms of OSA, including daytime sleepiness, moodiness, concentration issues and reduce or eliminate snoring. Similar to night guards and other dental guards, it is important to maintain a regular cleaning routine before and after use every night, in order to prevent complications to your teeth such as food particle impaction and plaque buildup.
