Understanding Oral Appliance Therapy

 

Understanding Oral Appliance Therapy

Oral appliance therapy can be an effective sleep solution for some people who struggle with sleep-disordered breathing.

Similar in design to mouth guards or orthodontic retainers, an oral appliance is a removable device worn in the mouth as you sleep. It repositions the lower jaw and mandible to open up airway passages, reducing snoring and other symptoms of sleep apnea. Dr. Pitts explains Oral Appliance Therapy in this video.

By adjusting the position of the mandible during sleep, oral appliance therapy helps to remove excessive space beneath the tongue, pulling the tongue forward and opening up the airway passage for easier breathing.

Because it is less obtrusive, the treatment is favored among some patients who are searching for an alternative to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. It is considered most helpful to those with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea.

Interested in finding out if oral appliances will be a right fit for your sleep needs? Call the FusionSleep office today to schedule an appointment with our expert team of sleep specialists at (678) 990-3962.