What are Oral Appliances for Sleep Apnea?
Sleep Apnea is when breathing repeatedly stops and starts while sleeping. Tiredness after a full night’s sleep and loud snoring are the two most common symptoms that occur during sleep apnea. It occurs when your brain does not get the signal it requires for breathing. In such situations, your brain tries to protect you by putting you in an awakening situation.
The major causes of sleep apnea could be narrow airways caused due to the age effect, obesity, change in hormones, large tonsils, etc. There are many categories under types of sleep apnea, but Obstructive Sleep Disorder is the most common type.
Certain Sleep apnea oral appliances can protect you from the severe effects of sleep apnea. This blog will highlight some oral appliances for sleep apnea and their effectiveness in dealing with the concern.
Signs and Symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea includes the following symptoms:
● Excessive daytime sleepiness
● Loud snoring
● Observed episodes of stopped breathing during sleep
● Abrupt awakenings accompanied by gasping or choking
● Awakening with a dry mouth or sore throat
● Morning headache
● Difficulty concentrating during the day
● Mood changes, such as depression or irritability
● High blood pressure
● Decreased libido
How Does Oral Appliance Work?
A dental appliance works by advancing or reversing your lower jaw. This will prevent your tongue from blocking your airway. As a result, you are less likely to snore or have your tongue block your airway while sleeping. Your snoring should either stop altogether or be reduced if you use this device.
How effective are oral appliances?
Oral Appliances are generally effective for treating mild to moderate sleep apnea. Some get different results; it depends on the severity of the concern. If your sleep apnea improves when you lie on your side and are not overweight, the chance is higher that your sleep apnea gets cured with the Sleep apnea oral appliances.
You will come to know the effectiveness of sleep apnea for you only after you try it.
Types of Oral Appliances to Treat Sleep Apnea
Following are the six oral appliances for sleep apnea:
● Mandibular Advancement Devices (MAD):
MAD is an oral appliance that is positioned in the mouth. Its purpose is to modify the jaw position, tongue, and other structures supporting the UA. By doing so, it treats chronic Obstructive sleep apnea.
● Mandibular Advancement Splints (MAS):
This device is worn on the teeth during sleep. They work effectively by advancing the lower jaw while sleeping. In this way, they reduce snoring and eventually prove beneficial in treating sleep apnea.
● Mandibular Repositioning Appliances (MRA)
Similar to the gum shield, MRA is a device used to treat sleep apnea in the short term. Also, it is intraorally worn to advance the lower jaw while sleeping.
● Tongue Retaining Devices (TRD)
TRD is worn on the tongue to grip it while sleeping. The idea is to prevent the tongue from falling into the back of the throat, which causes sleep apnea.
● Daytime-Nighttime Appliance (DNA)
DNA is a removable appliance that conveniently stretches the teeth’ upper arches of the teeth and thus provides room for your tongue so that it does not block the airways.
● Mandibular Repositioning Nighttime Appliance (mRNA)
mRNA is an oral appliance worn at night to reposition the mandible and develop the mid-face. It provides combined maxilla-mandibular correction.
Conclusion
If you are suffering from snoring or any other mild to moderate symptom of sleep disorder, you must seek assistance from a dentist. The dentist may recommend Sleep apnea oral appliances that fit your oral health condition.
An experienced team of dental professionals at Aberdeen Dental Centre first diagnoses your sleep apnea and then will offer you the best possible treatment.