520-663-0419
Sleep apnea is a serious health condition and should be treated like one. Deafening snoring, wheezing, and waking up throughout the night aren’t just annoying—they’re dangerous. But if you’re currently living with sleep apnea, don’t lose hope.
The most common type of treatment for sleep apnea is the CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine. However, while CPAP is the gold standard in managing sleep apnea and can provide excellent long-term results, many people find that they cannot tolerate this type of treatment due to the masks, discomfort and noises involved in it. Dr. Brett Barney and Dr. Jonathan Hall offer oral appliance therapy as an alternative solution to help you breathe easily at night and get the rest you need.
Oral appliance therapy works by gently moving and adjusting the position of your jaw while the appliance is worn. This moves the tongue forward and tightens the soft tissues of the throat, preventing them from vibrating, keeping the airways open and creating better muscle tone in the area so that you can breathe easily and naturally throughout the night so that you can enjoy a safe, soundless sleep.
Oral Appliance Therapy for Sleep Apnea
Oral appliance therapy is one of the treatments options we off that can help you ward off the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea. Your customized oral device will fit in your mouth just like an orthodontic retainer or a sports mouthguard. It holds the lower jaw in a forward position, which prevents the palate from collapsing against the back of the throat.
This effectively keeps the airway open and prevents interrupted breathing episodes.
Advantages of Oral Appliance Therapy
Oral appliance therapy is an attractive treatment option for many patients suffering from sleep apnea. Adjusting to other sleep apnea therapies like CPAP and surgery can be difficult and uncomfortable, but oral appliance therapy, in contrast, is portable, unobtrusive and doesn’t require any long-term lifestyle changes.
Some of the benefits of oral appliance therapy include:
- No noise from a CPAP machine
- No loud in-mask breathing sounds
- Your appliance is easy to clean and travel with
- No electricity is required for use
- Your appliance is custom-designed to fit comfortably
- No risk of tangling, irritations or claustrophobia from a mask
A CPAP Alternative
Oral appliance therapy gives patients who are intolerant to CPAP another option. Our oral sleep appliances are top-of-the-line options for those with mild to moderate sleep apnea who do not want to wear a bulky mask while they sleep. Oral appliances are discreet, portable, and comfortable in comparison to CPAP machines. This increases the chances of treatment success.
Our Sleep Apnea Treatment Process
At our office, we offer home sleep tests for all of our sleep apnea patients. That means that you don’t have to go to a sleep clinic for an overnight study, which can be a real inconvenience for busy people. From the comfort of your own bed, you will be able to track your sleeping patterns, which will help us gauge the severity of your condition.
Once we’ve determined that oral appliance therapy is right for you, we can prescribe an oral sleep appliance. Dr. Barney is a highly qualified dental sleep practitioner and can steer you in the right direction no matter which treatment you need.
Stop Snoring. Start Sleeping.
We strongly recommend that you use a custom-made appliance created by our dentists if you receive this type of treatment. While there are a number of oral appliances and gadgets advertised “over the counter,” the fact is that sleep apnea is a serious medical condition and requires treatments from sleep physicians and doctors trained in providing this type of appliance. We will need to monitor the effectiveness of your oral appliance over time as well as carefully evaluate your bite, gums and jaw joint to help ensure your appliance is beneficial for you. The appliance itself may need occasional adjustments to ensure that it is functioning properly and providing you with the best possible results.
If you find that you’re waking up several times per night, excessively snoring, or feel tired throughout the day, give us a call. You may be suffering from sleep apnea, which can severely diminish your quality of life. Don’t lose another night’s sleep! For more information about oral appliance therapy in Tucson, Arizona, and to schedule a consultation with our caring dentists, please contact Desert Dental Group today at 520-663-0419.