If you suffer from mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea, and if you haven’t had luck with CPAP, an oral appliance might be the right choice for you. Oral appliances position the jaw and tongue to sit more forward in your mouth, allowing the airway to open.
There are two main types of oral appliances:
- A mandibular advancement device (MAD) pushes the jaw forward.
- A tongue retaining device prevents the tongue from blocking the airway.
There are also devices that combine both features for maximum effectiveness.
Combination Therapy
Oral appliances can be more effective for people with moderate to severe sleep apnea when combined with other treatments. Doctors call this practice combination therapy and use it in various fields of medicine to tackle conditions that aren’t improved with just one type of treatment.
One such treatment is Provent, a newly developed technology that is simple, convenient, and FDA-approved to treat mild sleep apnea and snoring. Provent uses MicroValve technology and the pressure of your own breath to keep your airways open. The disposable valves attach to each nostril with a hypoallergenic patch. The valves allow you to inhale normally but let only a small amount air out when you exhale, increasing the pressure inside your airway and preventing it from collapsing.
Why Choose This Treatment
Using Provent with an oral appliance could be an effective and preferable treatment to CPAP. The oral appliance stabilizes your jaw and tongue to prevent blockage in your throat, and Provent creates expiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP) that helps your airway stay open. Both of these treatments have a far higher treatment tolerance than CPAP, which is used regularly and correctly by less than half of its patients.
Unlike CPAP, these treatments do not require bulky headgear and machinery which can be frustrating for you and your partner. Patients prefer to wear Provent and oral appliances because they are both:
- Noise-free
- Convenient
- Small
- Easy-to-use
- Non-invasive
Together, Provent and an oral appliance can decrease your sleep apnea symptoms, increase the peacefulness of your sleep, and improve the quality of your life.
For more information on the treatment of sleep apnea with oral appliances and snoring prevention, please contact an experienced sleep dentist at Think Better Life. Call 1-847-533-8313 today for your personalized sleep apnea consultation today.
