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At Triad Dentistry in Greensboro, North Carolina, our team understands how conditions like obstructive sleep apnea can affect your daily life. If you have sleep apnea, you may have been prescribed a CPAP machine to improve your sleep, but did you know that’s not your only option? For mild to moderate cases, we offer oral appliance therapy to support sleep apnea treatment. These are just a few of the many benefits of oral appliances for sleep apnea.
Every oral appliance at Triad Dentistry is custom-designed and created specifically to fit each patient. This means that your oral appliance will not only be effective for keeping your airway open by repositioning your jaw and tongue, it will also be comfortable for you to wear through the night.
Because an oral appliance is much like a traditional mouth guard, it is also just as easy to carry around with you wherever you go. Many people find CPAP treatment restrictive because of how inconvenient it is to travel with their CPAP machine. Oral appliances don’t require any electricity and can easily be used anywhere from your bedroom at home to a campsite in the middle of nowhere.
Oral appliance therapy is also a versatile treatment and can work as an alternative to a CPAP machine, or it can be used in combination with CPAP. Many patients find that their oral appliance is sufficient for treating sleep apnea, but even for those who require CPAP, oral appliances can work alongside your CPAP machine to reduce the amount of pressure needed to keep the airway open.
Oral appliances are simple mouthpieces that don’t require any special maintenance, which makes them easy to use. CPAP machines can be complicated to use and may require maintenance and repairs in the long term. For mild or moderate sleep apnea, many people find their oral appliance much simpler to maintain and use.
Unlike CPAP machines, which involve parts that are worn on your face and need to be kept by your bedside, oral appliances are only worn inside your mouth. This means they won’t take up space in your room or irritate your hair or skin, and only you will know that you are wearing an oral appliance.
For all these reasons and more, many people find that they can tolerate oral appliance therapy much better than CPAP treatment over time. Because sleep apnea often requires long term treatment, this makes oral appliances a preferred option for those who may get tired of maintaining, turning on, and putting on their CPAP machines night after night. The comfort, convenience, and simplicity of oral appliances make them much easier to use consistently over the years.
Dr. Steven Hatcher and his team at Triad Dentistry in Greensboro, North Carolina, understand the importance of treating sleep apnea and are committed to helping you find solutions that work for you. If you have questions about getting an oral appliance for treating sleep apnea, call (336) 383-1482 to speak to our team at 2516-A Oakcrest Avenue.