Mild sleep apnea

Dental applicances are successful at helping some sleep apnea sufferers, but not all. It used to be that doctors were reluctant to prescribe these devices because of a lack of sufficient research and testing, however that is beginning to change.

A group of researchers at the University of South Wales in Australia have done some tests to determine the effectiveness of these appliances. The conclusion from these studies is that approximately two thirds of those tested had a considerable improvement in their symptoms and they went from 25 sleep apnea episodes per night, on average, to 5 or less.

CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) is one of the most common forms of sleep apnea treatment, however many of those using this form of treatment find it uncomfortable and bothersome. As a result, many people give up using them after a short period of time or do not use as instructed. Dental applicances can be a good alternative for those people.

These dental appliances were originally intended to improve snoring problems, however over time - with design improvements - they have become effective for treating sleep apnea as well, at least mild to moderate cases. Severe cases are not usually as responsive to these devices.

There are many different appliances to choose from. Two of the more common choices are the splint and the mandibular advancement device, or MAD. The splint helps keep the tongue in a specific position which keeps the airway open so breathing is not obstructed.

MAD devices are much the same as the mouth guards that many athletes wear for protection. They push the lower jaw back, again helping keep the airway open for proper breathing.

Doctors are prescribing these dental applicances more and more often because of the results many sleep apnea sufferers have seen. MAD devices are particular beneficial. They have been shown to decrease the number of apnea episodes considerably, by helping to keep the airways clear for air to reach the lungs.

This entry was posted on Saturday, September 1st, 2007 at 7:08 am and is filed under Sleep Apnea. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.