Sleep Apnea Dental Appliance

Specialized dental appliances are a viable option to help counter the devastating side effects of obstructive sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea is a disorder that is characterized by repeated episodes of reduction or cessation of breathing during sleep. Millions of Americans, both men and women, suffer from this medical condition. Obstructive sleep apnea is associated with complications such as daytime sleepiness, high blood pressure, heart disiease, and an increased risk of stroke and early death. The severity of the disorder is characterized by the number of sleep disordered breathing events per hour of sleep.

Traditional treatments for obstructive sleep apnea have been less reliable due to decreased compliance. A therapeutic sleep apnea dental appliance called an anterior mandibular positioning dental device has recently been introduced as an effective treatment for sleep apnea. The anterior mandibular positioning dental device is designed to increase airway diameter and decrease airway resistance by moving the mandible forward during sleep. Dental appliances are usually reserved for mild or moderate cases of obstructive sleep apnea and is usually preferred over other traditional treatments. Keep in mind that an anterior mandibular positioning dental device is not a cure for  sleep apnea but a treatment to help living with obstructive sleep apnea easier.