Oral Appliance Therapy Fort Wayne IN![]() The Importance of Oral Appliance TherapySleep apnea can simply be a nuisance, or it can have serious detrimental health effects. Because of this, it is important to treat it as soon as possible. Oral appliance therapy is the option preferred by many dental professionals and patients because it is cheaper and less invasive than surgical treatments. They are also energy efficient, compared to CPAP machines and other devices which require electricity. Oral appliance therapy resolves many symptoms of sleep apnea, such as snoring and airway obstruction, which means you will get much better sleep. Types of Oral Appliance TherapyThere are many devices used to treat sleep apnea. Most of them are some type of night guard, which is a mouthguard specifically designed to be worn at night. These move your jaw forward in order to keep your airway open throughout the night. There are three different types of night guard that you can get; stock, boil and bite, and custom-fitted. Stock night guards are those you would buy over the counter (OTC) without a prescription. Though some OTC night guards are designed with sleep apnea in mind, these are often much less effective than boil and bite or custom-fitted night guards. Boil and bite night guards are those which you place in hot water to soften them. Once they cool, you can place them in your mouth and mold them to your teeth and jaw. These are a little more effective, though still not your best option. Custom-fitted night guards are those which your dentist would mold to specifically fit your mouth and jaw. These are more effective and durable, so they are the most recommended option for sleep apnea symptoms. ProcedureWe work closely with the specialists over at TMJ & Sleep Therapy Centre of Fort Wayne in order to provide our patients with custom-fit oral appliances. To learn more about the oral appliance procedure, please review the TMJ & Sleep Therapy Centre website, or contact one of our Summit Dental Group locations today. |