The Advantages of Sleep Apnea Oral Appliances

Caused by the obstruction of the airways while asleep, sleepapnea affects countless individuals across the country. While the cause of this condition varies by patient, many are often recommended continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy as a means of treatment.

While considered the gold standard by most physicians, CPAP therapy can be difficult to adjust to, with many patients often choosing non-compliance over a better night’s rest. To help tackle non-compliance, oral appliances have become a popular method of treating mild to moderate cases of sleep apnea.

In addition to eliminating the machine component of treatment, there are several unique advantages of sleep apnea oral appliances, including:

Tailored to Your Needs: Every case of sleep apnea is unique. While CPAP is often considered blanket treatment for all forms of sleep apnea, oral appliances are tailored to comprehensively address the cause of each individual’s sleep apnea.

Custom Fit Appliances: Similar to other night guards, sleep apnea devices are created using custom impressions of your dentition, resulting in a comfortable fit and effective treatment. As the appliances are tailored to the patients’ smile, individuals find themselves able to comfortably sleep with the appliance in place, improving treatment compliance.

Easy Travel: For individuals that are constantly traveling, CPAP machines can be difficult to fit into a carry on. As these machines can also be fairly expensive, purchasing multiple machines for different locations is often not a feasible option. Oral appliances are similar in size to orthodontic retainers or bruxism mouth guards, making them easy to slip into a container and travel with.

Silent Care: CPAP machines are notorious for making noise when in use, making it difficult for light sleepers to enjoy a good night’s rest. As oral appliances are silent, many unable to tolerate the noise associated with CPAP find themselves able to enjoy undisrupted sleep with this appliance.

Easy Maintenance: With multiple tubes and masks, cleaning CPAP machines can become a hassle for busy patients. Cleaning sleep apnea devices is a simple, 15 minute soaking process that can be easily integrated into a daily hygiene routine.

In Pleasant Hill, Dr. Kevin T. Dowd and his team work closely with local sleep specialists and other medical professionals to find the right sleep apnea solution for each patient. For more information about using oral appliances as an alternative to CPAP therapy, contact our Pleasant Hill dentist today. 

Understanding TMD

While often underestimated, the temporomandibular joint, or TMJ, plays a significant role in a number of daily functions. From enabling chewing, swallowing and smiling to even to facilitating breathing, the TMJ is an incredibly important part of your anatomy. As a result, temporomandibular joint dysfunction, known as TMD, can significantly impact an individual’s ability to perform those routine and necessary functions.

What is TMD?

TMD is a fairly broad term used to describe a condition affecting the functionality of the jaw joint. Normally, the mandible (jaw) is able to move via a set of condyles which glide along sockets located on the skull. Between the socket and condyle is a soft tissue disc, which ensures smooth movement. However, when the disc becomes dislodged or worn, this gliding motion can be extremely painful, causing movement limitation and affecting the individual’s ability to effectively speak, chew, swallow, and even make facial expressions.

The Causes of TMD

While there is no specific cause of TMD, there are a number of factors that can increase the likelihood of developing a TMD as well as pre-existing conditions that can lead to TMD. These include:

• Autoimmune Diseases or Infections
• Trauma to the area
• Dental procedures or instances of prolonged mouth opening
• Arthritis
• Genetic and environmental factors

Interestingly, studies on the prevalence of the TMD have indicated that these conditions were more common among women in their childbearing years, suggesting that hormones may play a role in the development of the condition.

Treating TMD

When it comes to alleviating the pain caused by TMD, night guards have also been shown to be highly effective and non-invasive. Stabilization splints act as a barrier between the upper and lower dental arches. This allows the jaw to rest in a neutral position, preventing muscle spasms as well as bruxism from occurring.

To determine the best stabilization splint for your case of TMD, in-depth images of the patient’s dentition and jaw are taken to determine the best type of oral appliance for your case of TMD. Advanced impressions are then taken to create the splint. Once the splint has been made, final adjustments are made and patients are free to take their oral appliance home with them. At our Pleasant Hill dental office, we also schedule follow up appointments to ensure proper splint use and function.

Additionally, there are a number of home remedies that patients can use to help minimize pain and inflammation. Some of these self-care practices include avoiding hard, crunchy, or sticky foods, applying ice packs, avoiding extreme jaw motion, practicing stress relief and relaxation techniques, as well as trying gentle stretches to help increase and stabilize jaw movement.

Facing TMD Pain? Contact Dr. Dowd today!

At our Pleasant Hill dental office, family dentist Dr. Dowd offers night guards as a way to alleviate jaw pain caused by TMD. For more information about treating this jaw condition, contact our team today.