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Oral Appliance Treatment For Sleep ApneaThere are three types of apnea: obstructive, central, and mixed (a combination of central and obstructive), with each having its particular level of severity and preferred treatments. The most common of these is obstructive sleep apnea, a condition where the obstruction usually occurs in the upper airway between the root of the tongue and the soft palate.A new awareness has taken place in the medical community which now attributes the majority of sleep disordered breathing (SDB) to anatomical, or physical problems rather than to neurological in nature. Even more encouraging today is how most physicians agree that snoring and obstructive sleep apnea can be treated successfully with a dental appliance. An oral (or dental) appliance is a small device that's very similar to an orthodontic retainer. It's worn in the mouth while sleeping to help prevent soft throat tissues from collapsing and obstructing the airway. Some of the devices hold the lower jaw forward during sleep, while other appliances directly affect tongue position. Dental Device Comparison Chart
The Benefits Of An Oral ApplianceAll oral appliances attempt to dilate or open the airway to relieve snoring and OSA. They are especially helpful to patients who are intolerant of their CPAP mask, or for snoring only. Accepted by patients and sleep specialists for both comfort & effectiveness, oral appliance therapy has some very definite advantages:
• excellent patient acceptance and compliance
• non-surgical, conservative treatment • comparatively moderate cost; several manufacturers to choose from • repositions soft palate; stabilizes lower jaw; user-friendly |
 
TAP©
The Silencer®
Klearway™
Silent Nite®
OASYS™
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Patient Screening ProcessDr. Urban uses Acoustic Pharyngometry®, a modern diagnostic technique used for accurately screening patients to determine whether their conditions make them a candidate for an oral appliance. Our screening includes a thorough medical/dental history, an intraoral exam of the face, neck, teeth, tongue and supporting structures, checking the upper airway for obstruction, specialized x-rays, a TMJ disorder exam, mandible position, nasal airway and more.
To round out your visit, the doctor will discuss how to care for your appliance, how best to adjust to wearing it, any side effects that might occur while wearing a dental device (verbally and in writing), plus when to schedule any follow up visits if necessary. While CPAP is the most recognized therapy for obstructive sleep apnea, dental appliance treatment has been recommended by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine for both mild to moderate cases, and in all cases of CPAP intolerance. In fact, oral appliance therapy is being taught to dentists in postgraduate courses. If you're having trouble adjusting to your CPAP headgear and mask, or should you have additional questions about solving your snoring or sleep apnea problem with a dental device, we invite you to contact our office right away! Our clinic works with other health professionals to ensure our patients get the best possible care. For convenience, download & print out our sleep screening questionnaire (PDF). Doing so will assist us with helping you even faster. |
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Sleeping Aid Solution Without Surgery | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Once the examination is complete, precise measurements are made and the patient is custom-fitted with a quality device which can be worn comfortably during his/her sleep.