Sleep apnea is a breathing disorder where one would stop breathing several times during sleep. This may or may not involve snoring but it will typically leave a person feeling tired and in constant need of sleep. A sleep apnea oral appliance is a mode of treatment that keeps your air passage open by:

• Putting pressure on your lower jaw so that it is pushed forward.
• Keeping your tongue from falling over and blocking your airway.
• Combining both systems.

A sleep apnea oral appliance is generally successful in individuals with mild cases of apnea and those who are not obese. However, it has also been successful in more severe cases of this sleeping disorder.

Also called dental appliances, these devices are usually adjustable to settings that give some comfort but are not ineffective for a wide variety of patients.

A sleep apnea oral appliance is an easier, less invasive alternative to surgery. However, many patients have been cured of the symptoms of the disorder, such as insomnia and snoring, only after prolonged treatment and frequent adjustments.

Sleep Apnea Oral Appliance Plus Positional Therapy

The dental appliance is also used along with other methods such as positional therapy. This treatment is based on the fact that sleep apnea tends to be worse if you're on your back.

This is because, due to gravity, your tongue has a tendency to fall back and cover your air passage. Also, when you lay on your back the muscles and tissues along your air passage (e.g., tonsils) also tend to block the passage.

So aside from the oral appliance, the apnea sufferer can use any of the following methods:

• Placing tennis or baseballs in a sock and attaching it to your back
• Using specially manufactured cushions or pillows that prevent supine sleep
• Using a specially manufactured positional alarm that alerts you if you start to roll on your back (but this may lead to more sleep deprivation)

The FDA has even approved a pillow as being effective in preventing snoring and mild apnea.

Most of the commercially made devices are designed even for the restless sleeper because they are made of hardy foam that will keep you in the appropriate position.

When is a Sleep Apnea Oral Appliance NOT Enough?

Whether your dental appliance should be combined with more intensive treatment, such as surgery, is a decision that you should make with your doctor. However, you should note that sleep apnea is not only something that deprives you of sleep; it can also put your life in jeopardy.

If really want to avoid surgery and the methods your doctor recommends seem insufficient, you can do some online research by interacting with people at sites such as A.P.N.E.A. NET Forum (transferred to the board called “apneanet” at http://www.apneasupport.org/).

Maybe you can learn some new technique that has worked in cases similar to yours.

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