Posted on 03/10/2022 12:57:37 PM PST by ConservativeMind
Oral appliances similar to mouthguards—called mandibular advancement devices (MADs)—have been shown to work as well as CPAP in treating sleep apnea for many patients.
"The oral appliances have been around for less time than CPAP, but they've grown a lot in popularity over the last couple of years and they can be as effective as CPAP for the right patient," Wang said.
Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when your throat muscles relax to the point of collapse and block your airway during sleep. When this happens, your body becomes starved for oxygen and you periodically wake up for a few seconds to gasp for air.
People with severe sleep apnea can wake more than 30 times an hour while trying to get their rest. Daytime sleepiness is the most prominent side effect, but sleep apnea also has been linked to serious health problems such as high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes.
Mouthguards keep airways open
These devices consist of two pieces that cover your upper and lower teeth, connected by a mechanism that uses your upper jaw as leverage to push the lower jaw forward, explained Dr. Colleen Lance.
MADs are similar to over-the-counter devices sold to help treat snoring, but they are custom-made by dentists working with sleep doctors, Lance and Levine said.
The upper and lower pieces are molded to your teeth, and the dentist performs a physical examination of your airway, including X-rays, to determine the exact adjustment you'll need.
"They calculate how many millimeters forward—we're talking about millimeters here, itty-bitty movements of the lower jaw—they would need to move the lower jaw to keep that airway open," Lance said.
These adjustments are usually made very slowly over a matter of weeks to prevent your jaw from aching or your bite from changing dramatically, Lance said.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
Thanks. I learned about this just two days ago during a visit to a dentist who specializes in TMJ pain.
Husband has thankfully accepted the CPAP now for years.
Will not try these things. Gag reflex.
I’ve had one for 2 years. It beats the living snot out of a CPAP mask.
Might want to beware of that. These bring the jaw forward, to my understanding, and believe me that is not good for TMJD.
So is major weight loss in obese people.
This is not exactly a new concept. I had one 15 years ago, but when my jaw started to hurt about 3 weeks in, the dentist suspected TMJD and said to stop using it.
No refund on the rather high price though...
Who do you see about getting a MAD?
You are right about that because it forces the jaw muscles and ligaments into a position which strains them held in a forward position for an extended amount of time. The primary goal is to bring the tongue forward to open the airway. A better device is called an AVEO appliance. Advances the tongue without straining muscles and joints. I use one. It is very effective.
Do not work as well
Approximately what is the cost, I know a lot of factors come into play, a ballpark price is all I’m interested in, I’ve used a CPAP machine for so long now that I am 100% use to it, I would strongly consider this option if it really works and the price is not outrageous, because I like what I have, but would give it up for something more convenient.
I’ve used one for 5 years. Works great. No pain in jaw for me. YMMV.
5 years ago, mine cost $3K, and medical insurance paid for half so I paid only $1.5K.
I use to think that too, but when I took my sleep test, I saw a number of people who were rail thin needing CPAP machines, being obese is a factor, but so is the physical makeup of the person, some are just prone to needing a CPAP machine.
My sister in law is maybe 5-7, 120lbs and has to wear one.
I also think sleep position has something to do with needing a CPAP machine, side sleepers I think are less prone and back sleepers are more prone to needing a CPAP machine.
The other thing that I know helps is a sleep number or mattress where you can raise your upper body to a slight angle, especially if you are a back sleeper like myself, that ever so slightly causes your lower jaw forward at night.
Thanks I appreciate that.
I use a device called a ProSomnus oral appliance and it works wonders. That and exercise and weight loss have been a marriage saver.
Generally a dentist does this work. In San Antonio it’s a subspecialist, but my dentist told me they can do one for less. With Tricare it was almost fully covered, I think the retail cost was several thousand dollars. If you can get your pulmonologist or whoever diagnosed your sleep apnea to note that you’ve tried CPAP and don’t tolerate it well anymore, your insurance will probably cover it.
See my post 18. If your doc will chart that you don’t tolerate CPAP well anymore (and just being sick of it and not using it are probably good enough), your insurance may cover it.
I’m basically happy with the CPAP but it is pain to travel with, I have the small portable one for road trips but it’s still a pain.
For use I used the same face mask thinking there was no difference between masks in terms of their effectiveness.
However, I switched from the full mask I had been using to a small mask the covers nothing but my nose, it has made a huge difference
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