Say Goodnight with a Sleep Apnea Mouthpiece

Sleep apnea is a disorder which affects many individuals, but it can be controlled with a sleep apnea mouthpiece. Those who suffer from sleep apnea experience periods during which they stop breathing for intervals of at least ten seconds while asleep. During these intervals, an individual is typically unaware of any breathing difficulty which is what makes this disorder dangerous. There are many kinds of sleep apnea treatments, one of which is the sleep apnea mouthpiece.

The sleep apnea mouthpiece is an oral device custom-made for an individual. It shifts the individual’s lower jaw forward, serving to further open the airway to allow for uninterrupted breathing. This type of mouth guard serves the additional benefit of helping its user to stop snoring as well. The use of a sleep apnea mouthpiece is referred to as Oral Appliance Therapy and has been successful in patients who suffer from mild to moderate cases of obstructive sleep apnea. While somewhat new to the U.S., the sleep apnea mouthpiece has been widely used in both Europe and Canada as a method of sleep apnea treatment.

How Do You Get A Sleep Apnea Mouthpiece?

In order to receive a sleep apnea mouthpiece, patients need only visit their dentist’s office. There are sixteen varieties of sleep apnea mouthpiece approved by the FDA, but all of them perform the same basic function. A sleep apnea mouthpiece prevents the tissue at the back of a patient’s mouth from collapsing and causing apneic episodes. It also stops the patient’s tongue from blocking his or her airway during sleep. A tongue retainer is another option but it is used less frequently than the sleep apnea mouthpiece as a snoring remedy and method of sleep apnea treatment.

While only sixteen types of sleep apnea mouthpiece are approved by the FDA, there are more than forty different models to choose from. In order to select a sleep apnea mouthpiece, patients should work closely with both their dentist and doctor to ensure that they receive the right kind. Doctors may recommend a certain model of sleep apnea mouthpiece as much based on the way a patient sleeps as on the shape of his or her mouth. The most important factor to consider, however, is comfort because the sleep apnea mouthpiece must be worn every night.

Is A Sleep Apnea Mouthpiece Right For You?

While wearing a sleep apnea mouthpiece may greatly reduce an individual’s recurrence of apneic episodes, it can also cause some unpleasant side effects. Patients have been known to experience jaw pain and tooth pain after wearing a dental device for extended periods of time, but these problems can frequently be solved by making adjustments to the mouthpiece to create a better fit. Dentists are more worried, however, about the possible long term effects of wearing a sleep apnea mouthpiece. Wearing a sleep apnea mouthpiece can cause changes in tooth position or even alter the position of a patient’s jaws. These effects can be serious and should be reported to a doctor immediately upon being noticed.

As medical knowledge continues to grow, people who suffer from serious diseases and even those who are afflicted with sleep disorders can hope for relief. New medicines, devices, and procedures are being discovered every day, making life easier for all of us. By simply wearing a sleep apnea mouthpiece to bed, patients who have been diagnosed with sleep apnea can achieve a good night’s rest and find respite from the many negative effects such a sleep disorder can have on a person.