Dental Appliance for Sleep Apnea Questions and Answers

Sleep apnea occurs when, during sleep, there’s a blockage or a collapse of the airway that’s caused when the tongue and soft tissues at the back of the throat relax too much. A person with sleep apnea whose airway closes during sleep will experience repeated interruption in breathing which can lead to serious and even fatal health conditions like heart disease. For this reason, it’s vital to address sleep apnea with a professional who can properly manage your condition.

You do not need to suffer from sleep deprivation caused by sleep apnea. It is possible to feel rested, energetic and healthy again. Commonly, sleep apnea is treated by using a CPAP machine. The machine works by delivering a strong, steady stream of air into the patient’s airway, forcing the tissues to stay open, which allows the patient to breathe better during sleep. This therapy works for many patients, but not necessarily for all. Also, some patients find it uncomfortable to wear the required mask or nose piece during sleep. Other patients feel claustrophobic when trying to use a CPAP. For these patients and many others, a simple dental appliance may be just what they need.

Yes! A dental appliance can help. Oral Appliance Therapy was approved as a first line treatment option for mild and moderate sleep apnea, and can also be effective for patients with severe sleep apnea who cannot tolerate CPAP, or refuse to use CPAP. And since the appliance is so easy to use, it may be a better option for you over CPAP therapy. We want you to find a successful therapy that you will use all night, every night.

Sleeping with a dental appliance to treat sleep apnea is called oral appliance therapy. The oral appliance is sometimes referred to as a MRD (mandibular repositioning device) or a MAD (mandibular advancement device). This device prevents the jaw, tongue and soft tissues from falling back into the narrow opening of the airway at the back of the throat by keeping the mandible (lower jaw) in a comfortable down and forward position. By keeping the airway open, the sleeper is no longer struggling for oxygen and waking multiple times per night. The appliance is custom-made, comfortable, and convenient to use, making it an excellent option, especially for kids. It’s also really easy to manage and maintain the appliance. Oral appliance therapy with a dental appliance works and can prevent the common conditions that cause sleep apnea in the first place. In fact, oral appliance therapy is a proven method that’s approved by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine!

Oral appliance therapy can easily be more cost effective than CPAP therapy. A CPAP machine costs an average of $850, and even though a dental appliance may cost a bit more, it doesn’t come with the additional costs that come with CPAP therapy, like replacement masks and filters, and oral appliance therapy is also covered by insurance, like Medicare or Medicaid. There’s a good chance your insurance will cover oral appliance therapy if you’ve already tried CPAP therapy, your insurance covered it, and it didn’t help you enough.

Oral appliance therapy is proven, approved, effective, and cost-effective, so we’re proud to provide it at our clinic!

Yes! Koala® Center For Sleep & TMJ Disorders provides dental appliances and oral appliance therapy for sleep apnea. We likely have a clinic near you, as we have locations in Bloomington IL, Peoria/Dunlap IL, Mishawaka IN, Kansas City MO, El Paso TX and Wausau WI. Please see our Locations page for the list of locations and to find the one nearest you. Call us today at that location or call our head office at (855) 977-0400 if you believe you or a loved one has sleep apnea.

We hope to hear from you soon! We’re very confident oral appliance therapy will work for you.