Oral Appliance Therapy
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Sleep Centers of Alaska
Sleep Centers located in Anchorage, AK, Wasilla, AK & Soldotna, AK
As an alternative to CPAP therapy, or in conjunction with CPAP therapy, oral appliance therapy has been proven to be an effective treatment for snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. Oral appliance therapy is simple, unobtrusive, quiet, and cost-effective. Sleep Centers of Alaska, with sleep clinics in Anchorage, Soldotna, and Wasilla, offers oral appliance therapy in conjunction with treating dentists to patients who are candidates for the treatment.
Oral Appliance Therapy Q & A
If indicated, the sleep specialist will write the prescription for oral appliance therapy and then refer the patient to a qualified dentist trained in oral appliance therapy. The treating dentist then custom fabricates and fits the patient with the oral appliance and provides follow-up evaluations. The sleep specialist and treating dentist work together as an integrated team to resolve the sleep apnea and optimize the therapeutic response.
What is an oral appliance?
The oral appliance, which is custom made for the patient by a trained dentist, is a small device worn over the teeth much like a sports mouth guard or orthodontic retainer. Worn during the night, it repositions the jaw in a forward position to prevent the upper airway from collapsing during sleep.
Why is a titration polysomnography recommended after the oral appliance has been custom made and fitted for the patient?
One of the most important steps to achieving successful outcomes is determining the optimal degree of lower jaw protrusion at which to set the oral appliance. Much like the process by which optimal settings are determined on a CPAP device, the oral appliance is adjusted by trial and error throughout the titration study to determine the optimal degree of lower jaw advancement to alleviate the sleep apnea. The titration polysomnography serves to verify whether the oral appliance is effective in treating the sleep apnea.
Can a dentist write the prescription for oral appliance therapy?
No, only a physician can write the prescription for oral appliance therapy. Moreover, only a qualified dentist can fabricate and fit the oral appliance. The sleep specialist and dentist must work closely together to provide the patient with optimal care.
