Orthodontics Airdrie
Sleep Apnea Oral Appliance

Oral appliance therapy is usually recommended as a treatment option for obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and snoring. It requires the use of a custom-fit oral sleep appliance that is worn only during sleep to improve sleep, revitalise your health, and restore your alertness.

Other benefits of oral appliance therapy include:

• Comfortable, non-invasive treatment
• Easy to wear
• Portable – convenient for travel
• Quiet
• Easy to care for

How to get the right snoring appliance

To determine how bad your case of sleep apnoea is, our sleep specialist will have to study you as you sleep for at least one night. Afterwards, you will schedule a follow up appointment to discuss the results of the sleep study, as well as possible treatment options. If your sleep specialist decides than an oral appliance is the best way forward, you will be referred to another dentist who will take an impression of your teeth and send it to the lab to have a personalised appliance made for you.

There are generally three categories of dental appliances for sleep apnoea:

1. Mandibular Advancement Devices (MAD)

These are the most popular dental sleep products for the treatment for OSA and snoring. They are also referred to as dental sleep devices or oral appliances. They open the blocked airway by moving the lower jaw (mandibular) forward.

Since the tongue is connected to the lower jaw behind your chin, moving the jaw forward causes the collapsible section of the airway to be held open by the tongue and airway muscles. Besides controlling sleep apnoea, MADs also enhance the strength of the airway by increasing the activity of tongue muscles and other muscles around the airway.

2. Tongue Retaining Devices (TRD)

TRDs function in a similar manner to MADs by holding the tongue in a forward position. But unlike MADs, the mandibular itself does not move forward. Compared to MADs, Tongue Retaining Devices are claimed to have fewer therapeutic intricacies, but they are not as comfortable as Mandibular Advancement Devices.

3. Combination of CPAP and Dental Sleep Device Therapy

Most of the problems associated with CPAP – Continuous Positive Airway Pressure – therapy are attributed to the high pressures and uncomfortable nose or face mask. However, it is possible to customize a sleep apnoea oral appliance that is connected to the CPAP machine and worn.

Combining CPAP with jaw advancement from a snoring product such as an MAD allows the CPAP to be used at a considerably lower pressure setting for best effect.

Customised snoring solutions

As with all treatments, not everyone can benefit fully from using snoring aids alone. It is important to discuss and try different snoring products with your sleep specialist to identify the best solution for your case of snoring disorder.