Oral Appliance Therapy
Oral Appliance Therapy involves
the selection, design, fitting and use of a specially 
designed oral appliance that, when worn during sleep, maintains an opened,
unobstructed airway in the throat. Oral appliances that treat snoring and
obstructive sleep apnea are devices worn in the mouth, similar to orthodontic
retainers or sports mouthguards. They have several advantages over other forms
of therapy. Oral appliances are comfortable and easy to wear and care for.
They are small and convenient, making them easy to carry with you when you travel. Treatment with oral appliances is reversible and non-invasive.
Oral Appliance Therapy is becoming recognized
by the medical community as an effective treatment option in the management
of sleep breathing disorders. Medical and dental researchers have joined together
to evaluate and improve the outcome of treatment with oral appliances.
Oral appliances may be used alone or in combination with
other means of treating Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), including general health and weight management and
surgery or nasal continuous air pressure (CPAP). Oral appliances work in several
ways:
- By repositioning the lower jaw, tongue, soft palate and uvula;
- By stabilizing the lower jaw and tongue;
- By increasing the muscle tone of the tongue.
Oral Appliance Therapy can
take from several weeks to several months to complete. Even after the intial
phase of treatment is complete, we will continue to follow you to be sure that
treatment remains successful and to evaluate the response of your teeth and
jaws.
Recognizing the variation between individuals and to maximize the potential for success,
this practice customizes therapy to find and work with the "appropriate"
oral appliance for each patient. This practice's approach can be found in
the Oral Appliance Therapy
Atlas (400kb .pdf) developed by Dr. Strauss and is titled, Oral Appliance
Therapy and Oral Appliances for the Management of Snoring & Obstructive
Sleep Apnea.