A Family Dentist Discusses Oral Appliances for Sleep Apnea

Oral appliance therapy can provide crucial respite for patients living with sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a condition that causes breathing to stop briefly during sleep and may cause unpleasant side effects. The general dentist can examine the patient and determine if they will benefit from getting an oral appliance to get a quality night's rest.
How oral appliances work
Oral appliance therapy for sleep apnea involvaes wearing a device in the mouth during sleep. Different types of oral appliances are available, and the dentist will recommend the best option depending on the patient’s condition. Most of the devices function by repositioning the jaw forward to keep the airway open. If the patient snores, which is often the case with those with obstructive sleep apnea, the device will make breathing more comfortable while sleeping.
Choosing the right oral appliance
The choice of oral device depends on the patient’s need and the origin of the sleep disorder. If the patient is ready to go through with the treatment, the family dentist will perform a comprehensive examination to decide the best oral device or any other solution for the problem. The dentist will examine the teeth, jaw and airway. Sometimes, X-rays may be required to get a better overview of the oral cavity.
If getting an oral appliance is deemed to be the most effective treatment option, the dentist will recommend getting a custom-fitted device. During the meeting, the dentist will go through the treatment plan and the benefits with the patient. Patients will also learn about the estimated cost and possible side effects of the treatment.
The device is approved by the FDA as a sleep apnea treatment. After fitting and adjusting the device, most patients will experience better sleep and snore less. Most devices are also covered by health insurance.
What to expect during the fitting process
The dentist will take impressions of the oral cavity to make a physical model of the bite. This will ensure accurate and comfortable fitting. The model will be forwarded to the dental lab, where the technicians will create an oral appliance that matches the exact specifications of the dentist.
At a second appointment, the patient will be fitted with the new appliance, and the fit will be examined in case further adjustments are necessary. The device needs to fit well inside the mouth to work. The patient will receive instructions on how to use and care for the new oral device properly.
The need for ongoing care
Ongoing care involves routine visits to the dental office to monitor the effectiveness of the treatment. The dentist needs to know if there is any problem with the comfort, fit and effectiveness. They will make any necessary adjustments. Multiple appointments may be required to get the perfect fit. However, once the appliance becomes functional and causes no discomfort during nightly usage, patients will only need yearly re-assessments.
In summary
After the general dentist fits and adjusts the oral appliance, you should notice significant positive changes in snoring and sleep apnea. With regular and correct use, the device should help you sleep better and improve your overall well-being.
Request an appointment here: https://somervilledentist.com or call Assembly Dental at (857) 300-5779 for an appointment in our Somerville office.
Check out what others are saying about our services on Yelp: Read our Yelp reviews.
Recent Posts
Periodontal disease, or gum disease, can be incredibly concerning and lead to other, more severe oral health issues if left untreated for an extended amount of time. Consequently, it is important to fully understand the various signs and symptoms of periodontal disease in order to be able to spot periodontal disease as soon as it…
CEREC® (Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics) restorations are convenient and accurate procedures. Each CEREC treatment has a traditional equivalent, which takes longer to complete. This new way of getting dental restorations can be an advantage to many patients. If you want to know the reasons when to advise a CEREC restoration, here are the…
Technological advancements in dentistry are bringing CEREC® crowns into the lives of many dental patients. These crowns are ideal for immediate dental repairs and restorations. They remove the hassles you get in getting traditional dental crowns. If you want to find out the advantages of getting custom-fit CEREC dental crowns, here are the details.CEREC milling…
CEREC® relies on CAD (computer-aided design) and CAM (computer-aided manufacturing). This type of technological combination allows dental practices to provide high-quality dental crowns. Each patient can go home happy with the new custom-fit crowns they have. If you want to learn about the benefits of CEREC CAD/CAM, here are the details.Traditional dental crowns take two…