Sleep Appliances
Dental sleep medicine is an area of dental practice that focuses on the use of oral appliance therapy to treat sleep-disordered breathing, including snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
Oral Appliance Therapy involves the selection, fitting, and use of a specially designed oral appliance worn during sleep that maintains an open unobstructed airway in the throat. Oral Appliances work in several ways:
- Repositioning the lower jaw, tongue, soft palate, and uvula
- Stabilizing the lower jaw and tongue
- Increasing the muscle tone of the tongue
We are trained in oral appliance therapy, and we are familiar with the various designs of appliances. We determine which one is the best suited for your specific needs. We will work with your physician as part of the medical team in your diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing care. The initial evaluation phase of oral appliance therapy can take from several weeks to several months to complete. This includes examination, and evaluation to determine the most appropriate oral appliance, fitting, and maximizing adaptation of the appliance and the function.