Oral Appliance Therapy
For Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT) can be used alone or in conjunction with other means of therapy, such as continuous positive air pressure (CPAP). Determination of proper therapy is made by joint consultation between your sleep physician and your dentist.
Did You Know?
- Individuals who snore regularly have an increased risk of sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBDs).
- Regular snorers have a 33% increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
- Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) are four times more likely to have a heart attack.
- 40-80% of stroke victims also suffer from OSA.
- Sleep disorders affect about 70 million people, and most of these individuals don’t even realize they have a problem.
- Sleep disorders can range from mild snoring to more serious obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
How Does Snoring Indicate Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)?
Snoring is often a symptom of a more serious condition called Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Snoring occurs when the air you breathe vibrates the tissues of the airway due to a blocked or narrowed airway. OSA occurs when your breathing completely or partially stops for 10 seconds or longer due to upper airway obstruction.
What to Do About SRBD’s?
In addition to lifestyle and behavioral changes, such as good sleep hygiene, smoking cessation, exercise, and weight loss, there are three primary ways to treat snoring and OSA:
- Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)
- Oral appliance therapy (OAT)
- Surgery, such as Inspire therapy
Oral Appliance Therapy Indications
- For patients with mild to severe obstructive sleep apnea who prefer oral appliance therapy to CPAP.
- For patients who are intolerant and/or refuse to use a CPAP.
- For ease of travel when transporting a CPAP is cumbersome.
How Do Oral Appliances Work?
Oral appliances are placed in the mouth much like an orthodontic appliance or a sports mouth-protector. They are worn only during sleep to prevent the collapse of the throat by keeping the lower jaw in a more stable, closed, and sometimes more forward position. This provides an environment during sleep for continuous, uninterrupted breathing.
What to Expect
Once diagnosed by a physician, a dentist will thoroughly examine your teeth and mouth to confirm your oral health status and ensure that you are a candidate for an Oral Appliance. A series of impressions will be taken, and the proper FDA-approved device will be fabricated. At the seating appointment, the appliance will be checked for fit. Use and care instructions will be provided. There will then be a series of follow-up visits, which ensure that the optimal position has been achieved.
The dentist will refer you back to your physician for a re-evaluation of the OAT effectiveness, and a follow-up sleep study may be prescribed. You should return for a follow-up visit twice in the first year and annually after.
Why Choose STRC Dental Sleep Medicine?
- STRC is the only center in San Antonio that is fully accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.
- We are in-network providers for almost every insurance carrier, including Medicare & Tricare.
- With our comprehensive approach to therapy, we are proud to provide a “One Stop Shop” to manage sleep-related breathing disorders, including Snoring & Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome.
- With oral appliance therapy, patients will receive an initial evaluation by an experienced dentist and the skilled ancillary dental staff.
- Medical staff will work collaboratively with the dentist to ensure a seamless, thorough treatment.
- Through providing the above comprehensive approach to SRBDs, we not only diagnose & treat SRBDs, but also prevent and minimize the probability of patients suffering the consequences of delayed diagnosis and less than optimal management.
