Glendale Premier Dental is now offering Oral Appliance Therapy to our patients. Oral appliances (OA) are a front-line treatment for patients with mild to moderate Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).
Who is a good candidate for the OA Therapy:
Patients with primary snoring or mild Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) who do not respond to, or are not appropriate candidates for treatment with behavioral measures such as weight loss or sleep-position change.
Patients with moderate to severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) should have an initial trial of nasal CPAP, due to greater effectiveness with the use of oral appliances.
Patients with moderate to severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) who are intolerant of or refuse treatment with nasal CPAP. Oral appliances are also indicated for patients who refuse treatment, or are not candidates for tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy, cranofacial operations, or tracheostomy.
How Oral Appliances Work:
1. Repositioning the lower jaw, tongue, soft palate and uvula
2. Stabilizing the lower jaw and tongue
3. Increasing the muscle tone of the tongue
What is Oral Appliance Therapy Course of Action:
Oral appliance therapy involves the selection, fitting and use of a specially designed oral appliance that maintains an open, unobstructed airway in the throat when worn during sleep. Custom-made oral appliances are proven to be more effective than over-the-counter devices, which are not recommended as a screening tool or as a therapeutic option.
The initial evaluation phase of oral appliance therapy can take several weeks or months to complete. This includes examination, evaluation to determine the most appropriate oral appliance, fitting, maximizing adaptation of the appliance, and the function.
Ongoing care, including short- and long-term follow-up is an essential step in the treatment of snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea with Oral Appliance Therapy. Follow-up care serves to assess the treatment of your sleep disorder, the condition of your appliance, your physical response to your appliance, and to ensure that it is comfortable and effective.
Find out more here: http://www.aadsm.org/oralappliances.aspx