Types of oral devices for sleep apnea – sleep apnea clinic Seattle

What types of oral devices are available for sleep apnea? – sleep apnea clinic Seattle

At Mill Creek Sleep Dentistry, we specialize in treating sleep apnea using the most noninvasive solution currently available – oral device therapy. This therapy is effective and has few downsides (unlike jaw surgery, with its risks, and CPAP therapy, with its discomfort).

What does an oral device actually do? How does it work? There are over 100 types of oral devices to choose from, which fit into a few major categories. Here’s a primer on how these little wonders can help you to feel better throughout the day.

Mandibular advancement devices – sleep apnea clinic Seattle

This is the most common type of oral device currently available for treatment of sleep apnea.

The mandible is the lower jaw. The position of the mandible has a significant effect on the airway. When the lower jaw moves forward, the airway opens wider. When the lower jaw moves backward, the airway closes down. Go ahead and give it a try now, and notice how much easier it is to breathe when you move your lower jaw forward.

When you fall asleep, your muscles relax. One consequence of this is that the muscles that hold the lower jaw in place stop doing so. The lower jaw tends to fall backward, causing the airway to partially collapse. (This is particularly common for those who sleep on their backs, because gravity pulls the lower jaw backward in this position.) Snoring often becomes obvious, as the soft tissues move in the narrowed airway. In some cases, the lower jaw may completely block the airway and cause apnea.

The solution for this problem is an oral device called a mandibular advancement device. (It brings forward, or “advances,” the mandible.) This type of appliance simply holds the lower jaw in a forward position, preventing it from collapsing backward and causing issues with the airway. There are many different mandibular advancement devices available, but they all work by holding the lower jaw forward.

Tongue retention devices – sleep apnea clinic Seattle

Another issue that can occur during sleep, when all of the muscles relax, is that the tongue falls into the airway and blocks it. The tongue is made up almost entirely of muscles, and when they relax, they can easily block the airway.

To prevent this from happening, tongue retention devices are used. These devices hold the tongue in place so that it can’t fall backward. Because the back of the tongue (the part nearest to the throat) is the most likely to block the airway, a tongue retention device will hold the back part of the tongue forward, preventing it from collapsing into the airway. Although a tongue retention device can take some getting used to, this type of device has a high degree of effectiveness for certain patients.

Custom fit is important – sleep apnea clinic Seattle

Each oral device must be custom-fitted, so that it will be comfortable as well as effective. Your sleep dentist will take impressions of your mouth, to allow the device to be created exactly as you need it.

Although the categories are easy to understand, there are over 100 oral appliances that have been approved for use in sleep apnea patients. Choosing the right one is important to get you the relief that you need. Because we specialize in this type of treatment, Mill Creek Sleep Dentistry is uniquely qualified to provide you with oral device therapy for sleep apnea. As a sleep apnea clinic in Seattle, you’ll be in the very best hands. Come in for a consultation to learn more. Our convenient home sleep study allows us to diagnose sleep apnea and assess how bad the problem is, and then we can create a solution that gives you your life and your energy back.