Mandibular Advancement Splint For Sleep Apnea And Snoring Relief

A Mandibular Advancement Splint is a specialist dental device that is worn inside the mouth at night to aid in the reduction or elimination of sleep apnea and snoring.

Used primarily as a treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the mandibular advancement splint is also known as a mandibular advancement device, and even a sleep apnea mouthpiece or snoring mouth guard. These simple sleep apnea and snoring aids work in a simple yet remarkably effective way.

When placed in the mouth during sleep, these devices move the lower jaw into a slightly forward position, they 'advance the mandible', hence the name. This simple maneuver causes the soft tissues of the throat, soft palate, and upper airway, to tighten slightly.

This tightening prevents those tissues from becoming overly relaxed and blocking the airway whilst the patient sleeps. A secondary effect is that the soft tissues no longer vibrate as air flows across them. This reduces, and often cures, the snoring problem too.

Mandibular advancement splints have been popular in the USA for a number of years, and their effectiveness is becoming internationally recognised. They are generally considered a good alternative to more invasive sleep apnea therapies such as CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure), which can cause a variety of irritating side effects. The use of a mandibular advancement splint should be decided in consultation with your doctor. Many patients like them and prefer to try this option before moving onto noisier and more restrictive treatments.

Where To Buy A Mandibular Advancement Splint

When looking for specialist sleep apnea dental devices, there are really only two ways to go. One is relatively cheap, and pretty successful on the whole. the second will cost a lot more, but have all the benefits of being custom made for perfect fitting and comfort.

The so called' do it yourself' sleep apnea splints are not as slapdash a solution as they may sound. They involve placing your new mouth guard into near boiling water to soften the plastic. When soft, the sleep apnea dental appliance is placed in the mouth and bitten down on, to allow the device to mold to the contours of your mouth as the plastic cools, giving you a comfortable, well fitting mandibular advancement splint.

Alternatively, you can go to your dentist and get a custom splint made. This will involve a mold of your teeth and mouth being made, and then a one off dental splint being made by the dentist or a dental technician. This solution will be very comfortable, but is likely to cost you in the region of $300-$400 or more. A large outlay compared to the $50 for over the counter mandibular advancement splints. Look out for the sleep pro mandibular advancement splints, a popular and good quality product, ideal if you need to purchase mandibular advancement splints.

Do They Work - The Research Proves It

There has been a great deal of study carried out, particularly in the USA, over the last 10 years or so, that really supports the use of oral devices in the treatment of OSA and snoring. The use of oral devices has been shown to treat many of the problems associated with the condition. Hypertension, daytime fatigue and sleepiness, and general quality of life are all shown to be positively affected by the use of oral appliances.

The oral appliances currently on the market are large in number, and not all provide the quality of treatment to allow them to all be recommended. There is a wide divide between the efficacy of these types of product. Research in both the US and Australia showed these appliances to be as effective as CPAP in treating raised blood pressure in OSA patients.

We hope this overview of these excellent oral appliances has been beneficial. Sleep apnea and snoring can be treated, and treated effectively with a mandibular advancement splint.