Sleep Apnea & Snoring Appliances
If testing reveals that you are suffering from obstructive sleep apnea or excessive snoring caused by over-relaxing mouth and throat tissues obstructing your airway, we may treat this by offering a custom-designed oral appliance. This appliance will help prevent any airway collapses by supporting your jaw and keeping your airway open at all times during sleep.
The appliance will hold your lower jaw in a slightly forward position while you are sleeping, making sure your airway remains open. Your sleep apnea mouth piece will be custom made, using a mold to to shape the specific contours of your teeth and mouth, before having the appliance made in plastic. When wearing the appliance, your jaw will move slightly forward increasing the size of your airway and reducing any resistance.
This will work for you if you are suffering from a mild form of sleep apnea, though you may still benefit from this even if you currently rely on a continuous positive airway pressure machine (CPAP machine). An oral appliance may in this case provide a more comfortable treatment option, but is not intended to be a permanent replacement for CPAP treatment. Contact Dr. Hutto or our wonderful staff for a consultation to find out whether you may be suffering from sleep apnea and could benefit from home testing and snoring appliances.
