How Oral Appliance Therapy Provides Relief to Patients in the Chicagoland Area

Snoring is sometimes viewed as “funny” and “cute”.  However, snoring can be a symptom of obstructive sleep apnea which has been associated with heart attack and stroke.   Fortunately at The Center for Sleep Medicine dentists who have received special training the selection, fitting, and use of a specifically designed oral appliances are available to provide a solution to snoring.

The reality is that nobody appreciates a person who snores because it causes significant disruption to other peoples' sleep.  It is, however, something that can be alleviated through the use of custom made oral appliances which repositions and maintains the lower jaw in a protruded position during sleep.  This opens the airway by indirectly pulling the tongue and soft tissue behind the tongue forward.  Doing so maintains an open, unobstructed airway when worn during sleep.

Custom made oral appliances are proven to be more effective than over-the-counter devices.  Oral appliances are comfortable and easy to wear, small and convenient, making them easy to carry when traveling.  Also, oral appliances are easily adjustable and less conspicuous with a bed partner. 

The Center for Sleep Medicine follow guidelines as set forth by the physicians and dentists of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, the two most respected organizations in the sleep medicine field.  The dental sleep specialists at The Center for Sleep Medicine stay abreast in the latest advancements in the field of dental sleep medicine and are able to offer an array of devices, based on patient needs.

There are two basic types of oral appliances. The tongue retaining device and the mandibular repositioning device.  Both prevent the jaw and tongue from moving by keeping them in a forward position. Both of these techniques keep the airway open and ensure that breathing proceeds as it should.

Oral Appliances are also used as a therapy for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) which can be a potentially serious medical condition if left untreated.  Snoring is often a symptom of OSA.  Snoring occurs when the upper airway partially collapses during sleep.