5 Reasons People Choose Oral Appliance Therapy for Sleep Apnea

If you suffer from sleep apnea, you know how disruptive it can be. This sleep disorder affects millions of people around the world, causing sleep loss, daytime fatigue, frequent headaches, and health issues like hypertension and heart disease. If you don’t feel comfortable using a CPAP machine to resolve sleep apnea symptoms, Dr. William E. Wyatt, Jr. from Flower Mound Dental in Flower Mound, Texas, recommends oral appliance therapy. 

Here are five reasons people choose oral appliances for sleep apnea treatment:   

1. Comfort and Convenience

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a disorder in which oral tissues block the airways while you sleep, disrupting your breathing. You may wake up dozens of times nightly, gasping for breath, and then drift back to sleep. Lack of deep sleep will impact your quality of life during the day. 

Oral appliances are custom-fitted devices worn over your teeth while you sleep to improve your breathing. They’re made of plastic or acrylic material and look like mouth guards or orthodontic retainers. When worn, these devices shift your jaw or tongue forward to keep them from obstructing your airways when you sleep. Oral appliances enable you to breathe freely so you can obtain quality sleep. 

2. Effectiveness 

Oral appliance therapy works best in treating mild to moderate OSA. Dr. Wyatt can customize these devices for your personal use. A customized oral device will fit more comfortably in your mouth and work more effectively. Most people experience fewer breathing problems when using an oral appliance and have fewer issues with snoring.    

3. Compact and Portable

If you’re a frequent traveler, you’ll appreciate the compact size of oral appliances and how easy they are to use on the road. Unlike CPAP machines, which require electricity, oral appliances do not need a power source. They’re ready to use at your convenience, enabling you to get a good night’s sleep everywhere you go.

4. Silent & Less Intrusive

Although CPAP machines are an effective OSA treatment, they can be quite intrusive. You wear a mask and breathe compressed air through a hose all night to improve your sleep, a concept that’s not appealing to many people. In contrast, oral appliances are the epitome of simplicity. You place the device over your teeth to improve your breathing and then go to sleep. The device keeps oral tissues from obstructing your airways, so you can sleep peacefully all night.   

5. Non-Invasive Treatment 

Oral appliances offer a non-invasive means of treating sleep apnea to avoid invasive nasal, upper airway or jaw repositioning surgeries. As the appliances are so easy to use, most people have no problem adapting to or complying with this treatment. Consistent oral appliance use will lead to better sleep and improved daily living.

Oral Appliances for Sleep Apnea Near Me

Interested in learning more about oral appliance therapy for sleep apnea in Flower Mound, TX? Contact Dr. William E. Wyatt, Jr. from Flower Mound Dental at (972) 351-8555.

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