Information for Treatment

Treating Sleep-Related Breathing Disorders with Oral Appliance Therapy

You have been diagnosed by your Physician as requiring treatment for a sleep-related breathing disorder, such as snoring and/or Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). OSA may pose serious health risks since it disrupts normal sleep patterns and can reduce normal blood oxygen levels.

This condition can increase your risk for excessive daytime sleepiness, driving and work-related accidents, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, obesity, memory and learning problems, and depression.

What is Oral Appliance Therapy?

Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT) utilizes a custom-made, adjustable FDA cleared appliance specifically made to assist breathing by keeping the tongue and jaw in a forward position during sleeping hours. In order to derive the benefits of OAT, the oral appliance must always be worn when you sleep.

Benefits of Oral Appliance Therapy

OAT has effectively treated many patients. However, there are no guarantees that it will be effective for you. Every patient’s case is different, and there are many factors that influence the upper airway during sleep. It is important to recognize that even when the therapy is effective, there may be a period of time before the appliance functions maximally. During this time, you may still experience symptoms related to your sleep-related breathing disorder. Additionally, durable medical equipment such as your oral appliance requires specific homecare, maintenance and periodic replacement.

Once your oral appliance is in an optimal position, a post-adjustment assessment by your Physician is necessary to verify that the oral appliance is providing effective treatment.

Alternative Treatments for Sleep-Related Breathing Disorders

Other accepted treatments for sleep-related breathing disorders include positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy, various surgical and implant procedures, and positional therapy (which prevents patients from sleeping on their back instead on their side). The risks and benefits of these alternative treatments should be discussed with your Physician who diagnosed your condition and prescribed treatment.

It is your decision to choose OAT alone or in combination with other treatments to treat your sleep-related breathing disorder. However, none of these may be completely effective for you. It is your responsibility to report the occurrence of side effects and to address any questions to this office (address below), or to your Physician. Failure to treat sleep-related breathing disorders may increase the likelihood of significant medical complications and/or accidental injury.