What is Oral Appliance Therapy?
Oral appliances for the treatment of sleep apnea continue to increase in popularity as awareness grows amongst the public that oral appliances are an effective first-line treatment for many sleep apnea sufferers. Over 100 different oral appliances are FDA approved for the treatment of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. These appliances are worn in the mouth, just like a sports mouthguard or an orthodontic appliance, while you sleep. 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.
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) has approved oral appliance therapy (OAT) as a first-line treatment for patients diagnosed with mild to moderate OSA. The AASM also recommends oral appliances for patients with severe OSA, who are unable to tolerate or cannot wear CPAP devices. Another option for people with severe OSA is combination therapy (wearing CPAP and an oral appliance together) to help reduce the pressure on a CPAP machine, making it more comfortable to use.
Benefits of Oral Appliances
Oral appliance therapy is an effective, non-invasive treatment that fits easily into your lifestyle. Patients like oral appliance therapy because it is:
- Quiet & comfortable
- Custom-fit to maximize effectiveness
- Easy to wear
- Non-invasive
- Portable & travel-friendly
- Convenient for travel
- Easy to care for
- No on-going supply costs & upkeep
Oral Appliance Options
At SleepWorks Medical, we can provide a wide selection of oral appliances so we’re able to offer the perfect treatment for each unique patient. When you come to see us, we’ll examine you to determine which of the following appliances will best help you overcome your sleeping disorder:
SomnoMed Avant
SomnoMed’s smallest, slimmest, strongest, and first milled oral device with a soft liner for the treatment of mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea. The SomnoDent Avant is the latest device to be introduced by SomnoMed, and is digitally designed for dentists who want a slim, durable device with a quality fit and finish. The SomnoDent Avant is also our slimmest, strongest and first milled device, and features our comfortable, patented Bflex liner for patient comfort.
SomnoDent Fusion
The SomnoDent Fusion is an oral appliance that has adjustable side wings placed closer to the biting surface. It provides 8.5mm advancement in .1mm increments and can be made with SMH BFlex material for greater comfort. This device is useful for patients with large protrusive ranges of their lower jaw, thus requiring reduced resets. It may be contraindicated in patients with lateralized bruxism.
O2Vent Optima Mini
The O2Vent Optima Mini is a discreet and low-profile oral device that manages the upper airway for the treatment of mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and snoring by incorporating the proprietary Oventus Airway Technology. The O2Vent Optima Mini’s design (without the airway extension) may benefit patients requiring enhanced lip-seal, to avoid excess saliva build-up and/or dry lips.
O2Vent Optima
The O2Vent Optima products are our latest offering in the O2Vent oral appliance range. O2Vent Optima is 3D printed with durable nylon. The lower jaw can be moved forward to a comfortable range while also allowing the integrated airway channel to bypass nasal congestion and other areas of airway collapse, such as from the tongue, soft palate, and lateral walls.
Panthera D-SAD
The Panthera D-SAD is a dental appliance that can be used for the treatment of snoring and/or obstructive sleep apnea. The Panthera D-SAD is recommended to be prescribed for the treatment of snoring, mild to moderate sleep apnea, and severe sleep apnea for patients who do not tolerate the CPAP treatment or comply with it.
The Moses
The Moses® sleep disorder device holds the maxillary and mandible in a fixed position with a mechanism on each side to allow titration of the mandible in continuous increments (1/8 mm per turn) up to 6mm from starting position. While the Moses® appliance has been used as an obstructive sleep apnea treatment, it is also effective for patients who snore.