How Oral Appliance Therapy Works

For milder cases of sleep apnea, patients may not need to resign themselves to using CPAP for snoring and other symptoms, or succumbing to invasive surgeries. Oral appliance therapy offers a much more comfortable and convenient alternative. With this treatment, the sleep apnea sufferer wears a retainer-like device during the night, gently pushing the jaw forward and preventing the tongue and throat tissues from collapsing into the airway, making breathing easier. This solution is generally much more tolerable and convenient than using CPAP for sleep apnea.

Oral appliance therapy has been publicly recommended by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine as the first line of defense against snoring and mild to moderate sleep apnea. It’s a popular choice for patients who have tried using CPAP for snoring and have found it to be uncomfortable or inconvenient. The average success rate for oral appliance therapy is impressive: for patients with mild sleep apnea, up to 75% enjoyed regulated breathing patterns with the use of oral appliances. The effectiveness decreases somewhat for more severe cases.

Types of Oral Appliances

There are dozens of types of oral appliances available. Below are the two most popular and effective styles:

  • Mandibular Advancement Device: This custom-made mouthpiece is made from a flexible acrylic material that is worn over the teeth to gently force the lower jaw forward. This helps to prevent blockage of the airway by keeping the tongue and soft throat tissues from relaxing during sleep and causing snoring. One advantage of the mandibular device is that it can be adjusted to accommodate the patient’s unique mouth and jaw anatomy.
  • Tongue Retaining Devices: Similar to an orthodontic retainer, this appliance is made of a soft, flexible material that fits snugly around the tongue to keep the airway open. This solution is ideal for older patients who wear dentures or have trouble pushing their lower jaw forward. Tongue retaining devices may not be an option for individuals who have nasal congestion or blockages, as they require the wearer to breathe through the nose. Although not as comfortable as mandibular devices, tongue retaining devices are less cumbersome than using CPAP for sleep apnea.

Advantages of Oral Appliance Therapy

Below are some of the main advantages of using oral appliance therapy as an alternative to using CPAP to treat snoring and sleep apnea:

  • The small device is easily portable and can be used conveniently during travel
  • Wearing an oral appliance is ideal for patients who are not good candidates for surgery
  • Oral appliance therapy is much more discreet and less cumbersome than using CPAP for sleep apnea
  • This treatment can be used in conjunction with other approaches, including weight loss and alternate sleep positioning
  • The cost of oral appliance therapy can be less expensive than other treatment options.
  • The oral appliance is custom fit for you and your mouth, helping to remedy your unique circumstances.

At Renewing Sleep, our focus is on finding a solution that you are comfortable with, that you can afford and that corrects your condition. We offer no-fee consultations and second opinions to help patients find alternatives to CPAP or to remedy snoring and sleep apnea. We are a no-pressure office and will move at the pace you want.

Dr. Mark Kleive is highly knowledgeable on oral appliance therapy as an alternative to using CPAP for snoring. Call him at (828)669-2974, or send him an email to find out what appliance is best for you based on your mouth anatomy and the severity of your sleep apnea.