Oral Appliance Therapy for Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Getting a good night’s sleep is an important part of maintaining good health. Medical professionals recommend that a person gets an average of eight hours of sleep per night. While there are many things that an individual can do to control their external environment with the goal of improving their sleep, there are some uncontrollable internal factors that can affect a person’s ability to get the rest they need.

Obstructive sleep apnea, also referred to as OSA, can have a negative impact on a person’s ability to feel rested, even if they sleep for multiple hours. Oral appliances are used to increase the dimension of the airway and reduce the chances that the airway will collapse, thereby preventing this form of sleep apnea.

Over the past few years, the use of oral appliances to combat obstructive sleep apnea has grown in popularity because of the increasing body of evidence that supports their effectiveness. In fact, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine strongly recommends that these devices be used for patients who are experiencing a mild or a moderate case of obstructive sleep apnea.

The benefits of oral apparatuses have been seen in studies and clinical tests that use both subjective and objective ways of measuring how well a person sleeps. These tests take into consideration the neuropsychological functioning of an individual who is dealing with this form of sleep apnea before and after they begin to use an oral appliance. Other factors such as their quality of life, motor skills and cognitive abilities are measured.

Something else that medical researchers take into consideration when determining the benefits of these oral sleep apnea apparatuses is how the patient feels about the device. Generally, oral appliances receive good reviews from their patients. This is important because if a patient feels confident in the procedure they are using or if they feel comfortable with the device that they are using, it is likely that they will continue to use the device, adhere to the guidelines laid out by the physician and have improved health.

The negative effects of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome have been well-documented by medical professionals since the mid-1960s. Over the decades, a variety of treatments have emerged. Also, a stronger understanding of the health risks involved with this disease have come to light as well.

Although one of the more popular treatments involves using a mask interface to provide positive airway pressure, using this mask interface is complicated because it requires that the device constantly be connected to a power source. Since using this device is more complicated, patients are less likely to adhere to the treatment plan.

Oral appliances are simple, quiet and portable. They do not need to be connected to a power source. For this and many other reasons, the dental professionals at Implant and Comprehensive Dentistry are presenting this option to their patients with obstructive sleep apnea, and they are very pleased with the positive results they are seeing. We have offices in Champions Gate and Winter Haven. Contact us today to schedule your appointment to learn more!