How Do Sleep Apnea Oral Appliances Work?

If you suffer from mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA, you may benefit from oral appliance therapy. An oral appliance consists of a small device similar to a sports mouthguard that is worn to keep the airways open during sleep. While continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP, is the most common form of sleep apnea treatment, many patients choose an alternative if it makes them feel claustrophobic or otherwise unnerved by the mask or nasal prongs. As our expert in sleep apnea oral appliances in Glendale will assure you, oral appliances are less invasive than CPAP, and are just as effective at improving nighttime sleep patterns.

 

Oral appliances can be bought over the counter, or on the internet. For the best results the device should be custom-made by a doctor to fit your mouth. While the appliance works well as an anti-snoring aid, its primary function is to increase the size of the upper airway. This is accomplished in one of two ways. Either the device holds the jaw in a protruded position to increase the size of the opening, or it uses a suction bulb to hold the tongue in place.

 

To find out if you may benefit from oral appliance therapy, schedule a consultation with our expert in sleep apnea in Glendale.