Oral Appliance Therapy

High-quality sleep is an important part of a healthy, productive lifestyle. Unfortunately, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) robs people of the rest they need and deserve. If you suffer from OSA, there are a number of treatment options available to you, one of which is oral appliance therapy in Park Cities, Dallas, TX from Dr. Allison Fowler. Dr. Fowler has already helped many patients to enjoy more restful nights with the help of a custom-made oral appliance, and she would be happy to help you as well.

How Does Oral Appliance Therapy Work?

An oral sleep appliance is a small device that is tailor-made to work with your mouth. It gently repositions the lower jaw at night, preventing the soft tissues in the mouth (such as the tongue or soft palate) from hindering airflow while you sleep. As a result, you will stop snoring and experience higher quality rest.

After Dr. Fowler examines your oral structures and familiarizes herself with your case, she’ll recommend a product that she believes will work best for your situation.

What Advantages Does Oral Appliance Therapy Offer?

A CPAP machine is a common treatment for OSA. However, some patients have trouble adapting to the CPAP because they find it uncomfortable and noisy. Oral appliance therapy offers a number of advantages over a CPAP machine:

• Your oral appliance will not make any whirring or whooshing noises throughout the night, allowing you to rest in complete silence.
• An oral appliance doesn’t require any bulky straps to keep it in place. Plus, it is custom-made for your mouth.
• Traveling with a bulky CPAP machine can be a hassle. Oral appliances are quite small, so you can easily pack yours when you’re headed out for a vacation or a business trip.
• No dry sinuses. Air pressure from a CPAP machine can dry out the sinuses, leading to an itchy, uncomfortable nose. Oral appliances do not have this problem.

Am I a Candidate for Oral Appliance Therapy?

Most patients with mild to moderate OSA are good candidates for oral appliance therapy. However, you’ll need to consult with Dr. Fowler to confirm your candidacy. Some individuals find that combined therapy, which uses both an oral appliance and a CPAP machine, provides them with the best results.

How Can I Get an Oral Sleep Appliance?

If you haven’t yet received an official OSA diagnosis, your first step toward relief is to undergo a sleep study. Dr. Fowler can even send you home with a machine that will monitor your breathing so you won’t have to spend a night in a laboratory. Following your sleep test, a pulmonologist will interpret your results to determine whether you have OSA. If you do, Dr. Fowler will take some impressions of your teeth and use those as the basis for designing your custom oral appliance.