Oral appliances
for the treatment of sleep apnea continue to increase in popularity for many
sleep apnea sufferers. Over 100
different oral appliances are FDA approved for the treatment of sleep
apnea. These appliances are worn in the
mouth, just like a sports mouth guard or
an orthodontic appliance while sleeping.
Oral appliances hold the lower jaw forward just enough to keep the
airway open and prevent the tongue and muscles in the upper airway from
collapsing and blocking the airway. Two common oral appliances are the mandibular repositioning device and the
tongue retaining device.
The American
Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) has approved Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT) as
the first line treatment for patients diagnosed with mild to moderate sleep apnea. The AASM also recommends oral
appliances for patients with severe sleep apnea, who are unable to tolerate or
cannot wear Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) devices, or as
additional help when using a CPAP device.
For more information on Oral Appliances
contact Dr. Lee and her team today.
Really nice to read this blog. Get tips to prevent from sleep disorders and sleep apnea.
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