Oral Appliance for Sleep Apnea
One of the contributors to sleep apnea and snoring is the position of your jaw and oral tissues when you sleep. When the soft tissues at the back of the mouth shift when you sleep, it can cause an obstruction in your throat that stops breathing. One of the effective treatment options for sleep apnea and snoring is using an oral appliance to keep the airway open. At Julie Zweig, MD Integrative Sleep & ENT, you can find an oral appliance for sleep apnea treatment at our center in Alpharetta, GA.
Oral appliances are designed to fit over your teeth and adjust your jaw position. These devices look and feel similar to a dental mouthguard, but they are customized to address your specific oral issues. There are different types of oral appliances that can help control sleep apnea and snoring. Some shift the jaw forward to prevent the collapse of the soft tissues in the back of the mouth/throat during sleep, while others reposition the tongue. The device that is right for you depends on the configuration of your oral tissues and the severity of your condition.
Benefits of Oral Appliances vs CPAP
CPAP masks are a common treatment for sleep apnea, but they are not right for everyone. Some patients are not able to sleep comfortably when connected to a CPAP machine or they bother their sleeping partner. An oral appliance for sleep apnea and snoring treatment can be an alternative to CPAP masks and offer some benefits including:
- No cumbersome tubes or masks while sleeping
- The oral device is customized to fit comfortably over your teeth
- Oral appliances can also help with bruxism and TMJ disorders
- You can easily bring your oral appliance with you when traveling
- These devices are much less expensive in the long term than CPAP
- No noisy machine while sleeping
If you have been told you need to use a CPAP mask but are not willing to use this equipment, you may benefit from oral appliance treatment as an alternative. Dr. Julie Zweig is a dual board certified ENT and sleep medicine doctor that offers many alternative sleep apnea treatments to CPAP masks, including oral appliances. Contact our medical clinic in the north Atlanta, GA, area to schedule your sleep apnea treatment consultation.
