CPAP Dentist - Oral Appliance Therapy

An oral appliance is a device that is worn in the mouth in order to treat temporomandibular disorder (TMD), snoring, sleep apnea or to improve athletic endurance through jaw positioning. The oral appliances used in Dr Forsberg's office are Mandibular Repositioning Devices (MRDs). At Advanced Smile Designs of Aptos, California, Terry W. Forsberg, DDS, focuses a portion of his dental practice on providing oral appliance therapy to his dental patients.

What is Oral Appliance Therapy?

Oral appliance therapy is the use of MRD devices to treat various conditions in dental patients. They are designed to reposition and stabilize the lower jaw, soft palate, tongue and uvula in an effort to cure conditions such as snoring, sleep apnea and neuromuscular dysfunction due to malocclusion (a bad dental bite) and even improve athletic performance.

The most effective uses of these devices are in treating the following conditions:

• Snoring and mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)
• Severe OSA sufferers who cannot tolerate or refuse CPAP treatment
• Poor tolerance of nasal CPAP
• Poor surgical risk
• Need for the appliance during travel (when it is inconvenient or impossible to take your CPAP with you).
• TMD
• Improved athletic performance (Pure Power Mouthguard).

Advantages of Oral Appliances for OSA

Oral appliances can be conveniently carried during travel due to their small size. Treatment with oral appliances is a non-invasive technique and can be reversed if necessary. Once the patient adjusts to wearing an oral appliance, they usually find them more comfortable than using the CPAP and easier to wear. They do not make noise, are easily adjusted and promote compliance from patients because they are comfortable to wear.

Disadvantages to Using Oral Appliances for OSA

The minor disadvantages to using oral appliances are far outweighed by all of their advantages to the patient. Disadvantages include:

• Excessive dryness in the mouth
• Excessive salivation
• Morning soreness in the jaw muscles and teeth
• Minor movement of the teeth

The majority of these side effects improve after a few weeks of proper use. If problems occur, your appliance can be adjusted for better fit.

SomnoDent MAS

Dr. Forsberg has used an MRD to reduce his instances of sleep apnea from 25 times per hour to 7 times per hour and his snoring is almost completely gone. Dr. Forsberg now confidently offers the SomnoMed called SomnoDent MAS (Mandibular Advancement Splint) to his own patients who suffer from snoring and sleep apnea.

SomnoDent has been clinically tested and is a precision-made medical device that is highly effective in treating mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea and stopping snoring. SomnoDent offers three great reasons to give it a try:

• It is effective
• It is comfortable for the wearer
• It is a good value

Although CPAP treatment is effective for some, only about 25 % of people who start on the treatment actually follow through with it. They report it is uncomfortable and cumbersome. The SomnoDent MAS, on the other hand, is a non-invasive, comfortable option for people with snoring and mild to moderate sleep apnea.

How the SomnoDent MAS Works

The SomnoDent MAS device places your lower jaw in a slightly forward position from where it naturally rests. This tightens the soft tissue at the back of your throat and prevents it from vibrating. The patented design ensures that your lower jaw remains in the proper position whether you normally sleep with your mouth open or closed. It also works if you open your mouth for any other reason, including taking a middle-of-the-night drink of water. This is a freedom of movement that no other device of its kind allows.

To learn which type of oral appliance therapy is right for you, please contact Terry W. Forsberg, DDS at Advanced Smile Designs of Aptos, California today.