Sleep beautifully with custom-fit oral appliances that restore rest and protect your smile from nightly grinding and apnea.
Sleep apnea is a potentially serious disorder that causes one’s sleep cycle to be disrupted by the lack of oxygen flow to the brain overnight. Lasting from a few seconds to several minutes, these sleep-killing episodes, if left unchecked, prevent other vital organs from getting enough oxygen, which can lead to serious health conditions, and even death. The specific type called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may be alleviated with specific, unobtrusive oral sleep appliances placed in the mouth. There are two types of devices: mandibular advancement devices (MADs), and tongue-stabilizing devices (TSDs). If either fails to alleviate the situation, we recommend seeing a sleep specialist for more intensive solution options.
MADs are the more common of the two types of devices and are also known as mandibular advancement splints, mandibular advancement appliances, or mandibular repositioning devices. Their primary function is to move your jaw forward, and as a result, to move the tongue forward, which keeps the airway passage open. They vary in size, material, connectivity between top and bottom pieces, how much teeth come into contact when the mouth is closed, and how far the MAD moves the jaw. TSDs are also called tongue-retaining devices, and they treat the condition by using suction to pull the tongue forward. This also serves to keep the airway passage open, functions from the outside of the mouth, and is ideal for patients whose teeth may not be strong enough to support an internal device.
Oral sleep appliances are best for mild to moderate sleep apnea patients, and those who cannot tolerate continuous positive air pressure (CPAP) machinery. CPAPs function by pushing a constant flow of air into the passageway using a special device and a hose and mask setup, which can become very cumbersome. The use of MADs and TSDs can serve as a functional alternative to CPAPs. Patients should consult with their physician and sleep specialist to determine which solution is right for the individual.
