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Common Dental Devices for Sleep Apnea Treatment |
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Friday, 04 May 2007 |
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Several dental devices for sleep apnea exist to treat the sleep disorder. Dental devices for sleep apnea generally come in two categories, either mandibular advance devices or tongue retraining devices. A variety of both style dental devices for sleep apnea exists, each with advantages and disadvantages. Dental devices for sleep apnea in the mandibular advance device variety essentially consist of a plastic or other flexible material mold of the teeth.
These dental devices for sleep apnea resemble the athletic mouth guards commonly used in boxing, football, and other contact sports. The mold for the lower teeth is advanced further forward than the mold for the upper teeth. Moving forward the lower teeth moves the jawbone forward as well and opens the airway, preventing its collapse during sleep that causes the apnea episodes. It is an effective dental device for sleep apnea in mild cases of obstructive sleep apnea, particularly if the patient's obstructive sleep apnea is positional. Tongue-retaining dental devices for sleep apnea also resemble an athletic mouth guard. The device is like a suction cup and is placed between the upper and lower teeth. The tongue sits in the suction device and is pulled forward during the night, preventing the sleep apnea episodes. Positioning the tongue forward may eliminate any obstruction caused by the base of the tongue, and a sleep study can help determine if the tongue is causing the airway obstruction. There is limited overall experience with either of these dental devices for sleep apnea, compared with the other treatments for obstructive sleep apnea. They appear to be most useful in treating mild cases of obstructive sleep apnea. They are best fitted by a dentist experienced in the use of dental devices for sleep apnea treatment. Complications associated with them include temporal mandibular joint pain and excessive salivation. In addition, some patients find it difficult to sleep while wearing the devices. |
