Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can have a negative impact on your general health and well-being. If you suffer from this condition, our Vancouver dentists can offer a dental appliance that may help to reduce your symptoms and sleep better.
Have you been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea? Dental appliances are available from your dentist that may help to reduce symptoms of mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea.
At South Granville Dentistry, we offer a device called a mandibular advancement appliance, which keeps the tongue and soft tissues of the throat from collapsing into the airway by bringing the lower jaw forward during sleep. This prevents your airway from becoming blocked.
As you are heading off to bed, you’ll fit this easy-to-use appliance over your teeth. To help reduce symptoms of sleep apnea, there are two main types of dental appliances available: fixed dental appliances (while these are not adjustable, they may offer relief from sleep apnea symptoms) and adjustable dental appliances that your dentist can custom fit to the shape and size of your mouth.
When it comes to dental appliances, comfort is one of the most important priorities. If your appliance is uncomfortable or does not fit correctly, you might avoid wearing it at all, and there’s no chance it will work if you don’t wear it.
At our dental office in Vancouver, our dentists can fit your sleep apnea dental appliance so that it is comfortable to wear and works properly. We can increase both a patient’s comfort and performance of the appliance by adjusting the degree to which the lower jaw is held forward.
If you currently have a dental appliance that is uncomfortable or painful to wear, speak to your dentist. We can help.
Keep in mind that any kind of dental appliance takes time to get used to. When you first start using your sleep apnea dental appliance, you may experience some discomfort in your jaw or minor difficulties chewing. However, these issues should quickly disappear with continued use of the appliance.