What is the best Dental Appliance for Sleep Apnea?

Are you looking for a dental appliance for sleep apnea in London, Ontario? The sleep apnea dentist at We Smile Dentistry can help you get fitted for a mouthpiece called a jaw advancing device (JAD) that you can use as an alternative to a CPAP machine.

You can manage mild to moderate cases of sleep apnea with one of these custom-made mouthguards. Your dentist takes a mould of your mouth to create this oral device for you. A JAD moves the jaw forward slightly, which increases the upper airway’s size. This process reduces air resistance, alleviating the sleep apnea systems. As a side benefit, these devices can eliminate snoring, too.

Types of JAD

Oral devices used to treat sleep apnea vary in their design. Common types include:

• Thornton Adjustable Positioner
• Tongue retaining devices
• Temporary anchorage devices

Some devices let the wearer adjust how far forward the mouthpiece moves the jaw, such as the Thornton Adjustable Positioner (TAP).

Others move the tongue out of the way, such as tongue retaining devices. While a sleep apnea device can also treat snoring, it does not work the other way around. You cannot use an anti-snoring device to treat sleep apnea.

All oral devices work in conjunction with a weight loss program if the dental sleep apnea patient is overweight. In cases where a sleep apnea patient has severe problems but cannot use a CPAP, your dentist may recommend a JAD. They will check the efficacy of the device by having you participate in a sleep study.

Expect Immediate Benefits

Using the device every night results in immediate benefits. You should sleep better the first night of use. Since these devices prove very easy to use, most people stick with them. You insert them as you would a retainer or a whitening tray. The custom fit makes them very comfortable to wear. They provide a portable treatment option, and you can wear them discreetly. Your spouse need not notice you are wearing it. Unlike a CPAP machine, you need no electricity to run an insert.

You cannot use this option if you are diagnosed with arthralgia or temporomandibular joint (TMJ) arthritis. You also may experience teeth shifting over a long period of wearing the device. These mouthpieces last about two years before you need to replace them.

You can learn more about these devices from Dr. Giulio Spagnuolo at We Smile Dentistry in London, ON. Call us today at (519) 661-0042 (new patients call (226) 605-0042) for an appointment to discuss a JAD to treat your sleep apnea.