Sleep Apnea Oral Appliance

A sleep apnea oral appliance is, not surprisingly, a device that is worn in the mouth to reduce, and even elliminate the symptoms of sleep apnea. This pages provides some useful insight into how these dental appliances work.

Sleep Apnea Oral Appliance Therapy

So what is the main goal of the sleep apnea oral appliance? Oral appliance therapy is designed with one fundamental goal. to keep the airway clear whilst the patient sleeps, and to reduce the chances of an apnea episode occuring. There are a couple of ways these types of mouth guard for sleep apnea work. Firstly, there are tongue retaining devices, known as a TRD. These types of sleep apnea device are small devices that fit onto the tip of the tongues via suction. They are made of an acrylic material and the idea behind them is to stop the tongue slipping backwards in the oral cavity whilst you sleep. This helps to keep the airway open.

The second type of sleep apnea oral appliance is the mandibular advancement device, not surprisingly referred to as a MAD ! These look somewhat more like the traditional mouthguards used in sport. They fit over the upper and lower teeth and work by adjusting the lower jaw into a slightly forward position. This position keeps the airway open.

General consensus is that the mandibular advancement devices work better than the tongue retainers. Being non-invasive, they are very popular amongst people with mild to moderate sleep apnea. If you have severe symptoms, these type of devices may not work for you. In any case, a chat with your doctor or health care provider will allow you to discuss your needs. Being inexpensive, these sleep appliances offer some real advantages over other treatments, but they need to be right for YOU.

One important thing to remember is that these dental appliances for sleep apnea will not cure your sleep apnea. They are a way of having effective sleep apnea treatment options without the need for surgery etc. And for people who have trouble wearing cpap oral appliance devices, tehy may be just what you need. The medical community is not recognizing the benefits of these treatment solutions for patients. In fact, a sleep apnea mouthpiece of some sort is now recommended by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine as a treatment for people with mild obstructive sleep apnea or snoring.

Sleep Apnea Oral Appliance FDA Approved Devices

The FDA do approve a range of oral appliances as a treatment for sleep apnea. One of these, called the Thornton Adjustable Positioner. This is a mandibular advancement device that pulls the lower jaw forward to help keep good alignment and a clear airway. Sufferers can get a better night sleep and be free of many of the daytime symptoms that sleep apnea can cuase, like fatigue, inability to concentrate etc.

The Snor-X is a tongue retaining device that holds the tongue in a forward position using gentle suction on the tip. It's adjustable and has vents to assist breathing. Again, this is FDA approved as a sleep apnea and snoring treatment.

Visit the ihatecpap.com site for a list of FDA approved dental appliances for sleep apnea, many, like the Snoreguard and Somnoguard dental device for sleep apnea are available online at Amazon.com .

There is a way to reduce your sleep apnea symptoms and breathe new life into your body. My advice would be to read a lot, research a lot, communicate with your doctor, and see if you can find a way of treating sleep apnea with a sleep apnea oral appliance.