Learn about Sleep Apnea and Snoring Appliances
Mouthpieces are commonly utilized treatment options to address a variety of sleeping issues.
Teeth grinding, or bruxism, is a condition that can cause jaw pain and cause damage to teeth. Teeth with larger cavity fillings are particularly vulnerable to this habit of grinding and can often break while asleep which leads to even more expensive crown work. See our other blogs to learn about dental devices that can protect your teeth from damage caused by grinding and clenching during sleep.
Snoring is another common occurrence that can be treated with a mouthpiece. A large population have found relief employing these snoring appliances, as have their sleep partners that have to listen to them snore. There are a variety to choose from and many can be found over-the-counter.
Mouthpieces can also be used as an CPAP or sleep apnea device. Obstructive sleep apnea is a serious medical condition and usually is left untreated. When left untreated, it can lead to hypertension, heart disease, reflux and strokes. Sleep apnea mouth guards are custom made to fit the individual and are made by dentists using a custom impression to form to the specific shape of the patient's teeth and mouth. These appliances not only help with sleep apnea, but certain oral devices can also open the airway and help prevent snoring.
How Do Sleep Apnea Mouthpieces Work?
Most sleep apnea mouthpieces work by advancing the mandible or moving the lower jaw forward. Also called jaw advancing devices (JAD) or mandibular advancement devices (MAD). What these sleep apnea mouthguards do is they increase the size of the patient’s airway and reduce the air resistance that leads to snoring. Many sleep apnea mouthpieces allow the user to titrate or adjust the degree of advancement to which their jaw is moved forward. One example of this type of sleep apnea mouthpiece is the Thornton Adjustable Positioner (TAP).
Tongue retention devices are also another type of sleep apnea appliance. What these oral devices for sleep apnea do is they use a splint that keeps the tongue anteriorly placed to maintain the airway open.
How Effective Are Sleep Apnea Mouthpieces?
Although CPAP is the most popular and considered the gold standard, dental appliances are gaining ground as a more common option as research supports their use.
Many mouthpieces for sleep apnea are commonly used as a substitute for CPAP or even sleep apnea surgery. Also, sleep apnea mouthpieces can be used in concert with a dietary program if the patient is overweight. If you also are plagued from snoring, you might find that your sleep apnea mouth guard also decreases airway turbulence.
Sleep apnea mouthpieces are not suitable for everyone. They are in general more effective in mild to moderate of cases, although they may be suggested to patients with severe sleep apnea and cannot tolerate CPAP. It is important to consult with your doctor to determine whether this treatment is right for you.
Even after you have received your night time appliance, your doctor may request another sleep study to determine if it is benefiting you during your sleep. Of course, follow-up care is imperative to ensure that you are getting the correct treatment.
Benefits of Oral Devices for Sleep Apnea
When used as recommended and under the supervision of your doctor, you may experience many benefits from its use. In general, patients see an improvement to their quality of sleep after the first night of use. And because sleep apnea mouthpieces are simple to use, there is a increased rate of compliance compared to alternative treatments for sleep apnea.
Other benefits of oral devices to consider for sleep apnea include:
Convenience – These mouthpieces are compact and portable
Discreteness – They are not visible to your significant other when your mouth is closed
Energy conservation – Unlike CPAP machines, these mouthpieces do not use electricity.
Disadvantages of Oral Devices for Sleep Apnea
Many sleep apnea patients that are using sleep apnea mouthpieces experience temporomandibular joint (TMJ) arthritis or jaw pain. Others patients report a funny sensation right after removing the device in which they have difficulty bringing their teeth together in the normal way. Some patients experience teeth shifting after long term use. In severe cases, orthodontic care is required to correct the teeth positioning.
Another one of the complaints from people using a mouthpiece is the frustration in monitoring compliance. When compared to new CPAP machines that have tracking software which tracks the patients results, a mouthpiece offers no such feedback. Due to their small size, oral devices for sleep apnea cannot contain the same amount of technology that a CPAP device harbors. However, there are some newer sleep apnea mouthpieces that are being developed with microchips capable of measuring the amount of hours of use.
Another common problem with sleep apnea mouthpieces is that they have a shorter lifetime expectancy. These devices do not last forever. The life span can sometimes last only a year or two before the materials weaken and the appliances begins to lose efficacy. If you choose to use an oral device for sleep apnea, you will probably have to replace it regularly; however, CPAP appliances often require common replacement of parts and pieces as well.
Getting an Oral Device for Sleep Apnea
The very first step to getting any sleep apnea treatment is talking to your doctor or dentist. You may be a candidate for certain sleep therapies while others may not be an option because of your medical history or anatomy. Discuss your concerns and symptoms with your healthcare professional. You may be asked to participate in a sleep study to determine what is best for you.
With the increase in demand and supply of manufacturers and qualified dentists, mouthpieces for sleep apnea have become a trending option for sleep-disordered breathing and snoring. If a dental device is right for you, you will be referred to a dentist who has experience in the treatment of sleep apnea. Once there, the dentist will take an impression of your teeth contacts called a bite registration. A mold of your teeth is then made of stone. Your sleep apnea mouthpiece is then manufactured using this stone model so that it fits your teeth and mouth intimately.
You should only research oral devices for sleep apnea that are FDA supported. Although there are economical options that sell sleep apnea mouthpieces on the internet, it is imperative that your sleep physician, and primary care doctor, and/or dentist approve of the appliance. Many of the over-the-internet ‘boil and bite’ sleep apnea mouthguards are inadequate.
How Much Do Sleep Apnea Mouthpieces Cost?
The average cost for a sleep apnea mouth guard is estimated at $1700 – $1900. This includes the actual appliance itself, the dental visits, any necessary modifications and follow-ups for the dental device. Many health insurance companies and Medicare cover oral devices for sleep apnea.
To arrange for a sleep apnea mouthpiece, contact Elevation Family Dental or your primary care provider.
