Snoring and Sleep Apnea Treatment in Medicine Hat: How a Dental Oral Appliance Works
Loud snoring, waking unrefreshed and nodding off during the day are often brushed aside as part of getting older. Sometimes they are signs of obstructive sleep apnea, a condition where the airway narrows or closes repeatedly during sleep. Southland Dental in Medicine Hat provides oral appliance therapy, a dental treatment for snoring and mild to moderate sleep apnea. This article explains how the appliance works, who it suits, why a medical diagnosis comes first and what the fitting process involves.
What happens in obstructive sleep apnea
When you fall asleep, the muscles of the throat relax. In some people the tongue and soft tissues drop back far enough to narrow the airway, which causes snoring, or to close it, which causes a pause in breathing. The brain responds by briefly waking you to reopen the airway, often without you knowing. Repeated dozens of times an hour, this fragments sleep and strains the heart and blood vessels. Untreated sleep apnea is linked to high blood pressure, daytime fatigue and a higher risk of accidents.
How an oral appliance works
A mandibular advancement appliance looks like a slim sports mouthguard made in two pieces. It fits over the upper and lower teeth and holds the lower jaw slightly forward during sleep. Moving the jaw forward pulls the tongue and soft tissue forward with it, which keeps the airway open. The appliance is custom made from impressions or a digital scan of your teeth, and the amount of advancement is adjusted in small steps over the first weeks until snoring stops and sleep improves.
Who oral appliance therapy suits
People diagnosed with mild or moderate obstructive sleep apnea
Patients with severe sleep apnea who cannot tolerate CPAP, as an alternative agreed with their physician
Snorers without sleep apnea who want to stop disturbing a partner
Frequent travellers who want a treatment that fits in a pocket
An appliance needs enough healthy teeth to hold onto, so loose teeth, active gum disease and some jaw joint problems need attention first. It is not a substitute for CPAP in every case; the right treatment depends on the severity shown in your sleep study.
Diagnosis comes first
Sleep apnea is diagnosed by a physician, usually with a home sleep test or an overnight study in a sleep lab. Dentists do not diagnose it, and an appliance should not be made on the basis of snoring alone. If you have not been tested, we can explain how to get a referral through your family doctor. If you already have a diagnosis, bring your sleep study results to the consultation so the appliance can be planned around them.
The process at Southland Dental
Consultation
The dentist reviews your sleep study, examines your teeth, gums, bite and jaw joints, and takes a digital scan or impressions. We discuss what the appliance can and cannot do for your case and provide a written estimate.
Fitting and adjustment
The appliance is made by a dental laboratory and fitted a few weeks later. It starts in a comfortable position and is advanced gradually at short follow-up visits. Most people adapt within one to two weeks; some extra saliva and mild jaw stiffness in the mornings are common at first and usually fade.
Follow-up
Once the position is settled, your physician may order a follow-up sleep test with the appliance in place to confirm it is doing its job. We then see you once a year to check the fit, the bite and the condition of the appliance.
Oral appliance or CPAP?
CPAP delivers air through a mask and remains the standard treatment for severe sleep apnea. Oral appliances are smaller, silent and easier to travel with, and many people use them more consistently for that reason. For mild and moderate cases the two often produce similar results in daily life because the appliance gets worn every night. Your physician and dentist can help you weigh the two for your situation.
Frequently asked questions
Will the appliance change my bite?
Long-term wear can shift the bite slightly in some people. Annual checks catch this early, and a short morning exercise with a simple repositioning aid helps the jaw settle back each day.
Is it covered by insurance?
Some dental and medical plans cover oral appliances for diagnosed sleep apnea. Coverage varies, so we provide an estimate and the codes you need to check with your plan before treatment starts.
How long does an appliance last?
With nightly use and proper cleaning, an appliance typically lasts several years before it needs replacing.
If snoring or a sleep apnea diagnosis is affecting your sleep, book a consultation at Southland Dental in Medicine Hat or call (587) 750-4111.
Clinical review: Dr. Raj Bhanwath, Southland Dental. This article is general information and does not replace an examination.