Sleep Apnea Oral Device in Stroudsburg, PA
A sleep apnea oral device is highly effective when it comes to correcting sleep apnea. Because this health condition affects far more than breathing quality, it’s important for individuals who experience symptoms or have been diagnosed with sleep apnea to take the steps needed to manage the condition.
Our team of TMJ and sleep specialists can develop customized oral devices to ensure a perfect fit. To learn more about sleep apnea treatment, call THRIVE Sleep and Breathing at 570-420-1500.
What is a Sleep Apnea Mouth Guard?
A sleep apnea mouth guard is an oral device that minimizes snoring and alleviates obstructive sleep apnea. By using this type of oral device during sleep, individuals with sleep apnea can properly align their jaws, tongue, and throat to facilitate breathing as effectively as possible.
In turn, these individuals can take advantage of better sleep quality and the health benefits that result from sleep apnea management.
Thrive Sleep & Breathing Offers Alternatives to CPAP Devices for Breathing Disorders
Dr. Nolf covers the two alternative options that patients visiting Thrive Sleep & Breathing can take part in when managing sleep apnea and other breathing disorders. A customized airway optimization treatment plan allows patients to use a removable device that triggers healthy re-development of the jawbones, while other removable devices can pull the lower jaw forward and open the airway during sleep.
The need for a custom mouth guard
When it comes to managing sleep apnea, any sleep apnea patients prefer oral sleep guards over CPAP machines. Because a mouth guard is more comfortable, quieter, and easier to wear, they tend to have a higher compliance rate than CPAP machines.
Sleep apnea mouth guards are simple devices that closely resemble a sports mouth guard. They fit over the upper and lower teeth and work to keep the airway unobstructed as a patient sleeps.
Our dental sleep apnea professionals can determine whether an oral appliance will properly manage each case we encounter and because each patient’s condition is unique, we will examine several available options to find the best fit.
How mouth guards work
Dental mouth guards serve two main functions, to maintain proper mandibular (jaw) alignment and to keep the tongue positioned in a specific part of the mouth so that the airway is unobstructed.
For sleep apnea patients, both functions are important in a mouth guard. By keeping the jaw aligned properly, and the tongue kept out of the airway, patients can breathe optimally while they sleep.
The process of getting a sleep apnea mouth guard
If you’re experiencing symptoms of sleep apnea, it’s crucial to see a dentist for a sleep apnea consultation. An oral health professional will examine the mouth, throat, and jaw to determine whether any of the oral cavity is malformed.
Additionally, dentists can look for several airway-related red flags, including the shape of the nasal septum and evidence of the patient grinding their teeth.
A dentist may also involve an ENT (ear, nose, and throat) doctor or a sleep specialist in order to confidently diagnose obstructive sleep apnea.
Following a diagnosis, dentists will discuss treatment options available to their patients. If an oral sleep apnea device is deemed appropriate, the practice will customize a mouth guard that fits the patient’s mouth perfectly.
Dr. Jim’s Experience with Thrive Sleep & Breathing
Dr. Jim shares a testimonial involving the experiences he’s had as Dr. Nolf’s patient and explains the dedicated care and professionalism that makes him confident in referring patients to Thrive Sleep & Breathing.
Thrive Patient Josh G Talks About His Experience with Airway Treatment
Josh G, a patient at Thrive Sleep & Breathing, talks about his history with sleep-disordered breathing, his reluctance to use a CPAP device, and the approach Dr. Nolf took to correct the root cause of his breathing condition.
