Yates Center Oral Appliances for Sleep Apnea
You’re One Step Away from a Better Night’s Sleep in Yates Center, KS
Oral appliance therapy (OAT) is used to help patients with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea and snoring. And while CPAP is also effective for obstructive sleep apnea, oral appliances improve sleepiness. Oral appliances are also better tolerated than CPAP for providing a better quality of life for its users.
Our team of professionals at Yates Center Dental offers custom-made oral appliance therapies designed to keep your airways open while you sleep.
Why It’s Important to Treat Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is known for causing a variety of issues when not treated. Sleep apnea can lead to liver function impairment such as fatty liver disease. It can also result in tissue loss in the brain regions that store memory, and this can lead to memory loss. This is because repeated drops in oxygen can lead to brain injuries. But that’s not all, untreated sleep apnea could also result in death due to a lack of oxygen to the body.
How Do Oral Appliances Work?
Oral appliances push or pull the lower jaw forward. This keeps the tongue in a position that doesn’t block a person’s airway while also reducing the risk of snoring.
Are Oral Appliances Effective?
Just like anything else, what works well for one person might not work as well for another. For some people, using oral appliance therapy will eliminate snoring altogether, while others might need additional forms of treatment. Oral appliances tend to work best for people with mild to moderate forms of sleep apnea. However, it can also work well for those with severe sleep apnea as well. It just depends on because everyone responds differently to oral appliance treatments.
Side Effects of Using Oral Appliances
If the oral appliance is well fitted, it should feel comfortable throughout the night. However, since it’s designed to push the jaw forward, some people feel discomfort initially, but that discomfort usually goes away with time.
Oral appliances also cause excessive saliva, tooth movement, changes in the bite, and over time it could potentially cause problems with the joint and muscles of the jaw. However, regular follow-ups with the dentist will help detect and manage any problems that might arise so they can be addressed.
Common Types of Oral Appliances
- Mandibular Advancement Devices (MAD)
- Mandibular Advancement Splints (MAS)
- Mandibular Repositioning Appliances (MRA)
- Tongue Retaining Devices (TRD)
A dentist will talk with and examine a patient’s mouth to determine the best form of treatment. The patient will then be monitored for improvement. If little to no improvement is seen, a different or additional treatment will be recommended.
How Do You Care for an Oral Appliance?
A patient must brush and floss every night before inserting the oral device. A dentist will generally also prescribe a fluoride gel to combat tooth decay while using the appliance. And just like teeth, plaque will also build up on an oral appliance. Therefore, it must be cleaned and thoroughly dried every day before it’s used again.
To learn more about our sleep apnea management solutions, call us today at 620.625.2185 .
