Usually, Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) therapy is put to use to deal with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) effectively. However, since many patients find it intolerable, they try to look for alternate options. There are oral appliances that can be used to deal with OSA. They are an effective alternative to PAP therapy.
Los Gatos, CA, has many dentists who are well-versed in OSA and ways to treat the problem. In OSA, your upper air pathway gets partially blocked. When the airflow starts to decrease, you might wake up suddenly to help you breathe normally.
This sleeping and waking up suddenly goes on throughout the nighttime. Your organs may also find it hard to get adequate oxygen. Therefore, it can be pretty problematic for people to have proper sleep.
Making use of oral appliances can help you to keep it open so that you can have an undisturbed sleep. Reaching out to a dentist in Los Gatos can give you different options that you can choose from as per your requirements.
What are the types of appliances used for treating OSA?
There are primarily two types:
- Mandibular Advancement Device (MAD)
- Tongue Stabilizing Device (TSD)
Let us discuss both of them briefly here:
- Mandibular Advancement Device (MAD):
They come under some of the most commonly used oral appliances for treating obstructive sleep apnea. These devices pull your jaw and tongue in the forward direction; in this, there is space in your throat for air to flow. Dentists put these devices on your teeth. There are usually two parts of MADs; one of the parts is fixed on your upper teeth, and the other part is put on your lower teeth.
There are different things that keep the device in place and help you pull the lower part when needed. Hinges and certain rubber bands are used for this purpose. However, the sizes, materials used to make them, how the parts are connected, etc, differ.
- Tongue Stabilizing Device (TSD):
This is another device used to treat OSA; it is also called a tongue-retaining device. They make use of suction to pull your tongue out in a forward direction. When you sleep, the bulb present in the suction keeps your tongue in place.
They are also used to create space for airways to pass through your throat, and they do so by pulling your tongue in the forward direction. However, if we talk about popularity, MAD surpasses the TSDs.
They can be used by those who do not want to go for MADs for whatever reason. One such reason is that there are no solid teeth that can keep MAD in place.
Which oral appliance is best for treating OSA?
Usually, custom-made oral appliances are considered to be best for treating OSA. You do not even need a prescription to buy these oral appliances. Custom-made oral appliances are also known to show the best results out there.
Who is the most eligible to get oral appliances to treat OSA?
They are usually recommended for those who cannot make use of continuous positive airway pressure. It is a kind of machine with a tube and mask that a person has to wear throughout their sleep.
It transfers pressurized air and helps in keeping your airways open. It is considered to be one of the best ways to treat sleep apnea. However, some people may find it challenging to wear them every night.
Can anyone use oral appliances to treat OSA?
No, there are certain people who may not be best for using OSA. They are listed below:
- Those who have CSA (Central Sleep Apnea).
- Children who have issues with breathing.
- Those who have severe cases of OSA.
Make your OSA treatable by using oral appliances!
Get in touch with a good dentist in Los Gatos; they can help you find the best way to treat OSA. They will take care of your needs in the process as well.
