Do you suffer from sleep apnea and cannot tolerate a CPAP machine? Do you find yourself or your child struggling to breathe through the nose? Do you snore at night, or wake up feeling unrested? Do you wake up with headaches caused by teeth grinding? If so, an oral appliance may be right for you. At Breathe Airway in Treasure Valley, our team of highly trained doctors and myofunctional therapists offer oral appliances to help you with these medical issues. Call the office to schedule a consultation or book an appointment online today.
Oral Appliances Q&A
What are oral appliances?
OOral appliances are devices you wear in your mouth to help treat an underlying medical issue caused by malformations of the oral and nasal cavities. Some of the medical issues these appliances treat are underdeveloped jaws, poor tongue posture, sleep apnea, clenching, teeth grinding, headaches, and mouth breathing. By wearing these appliances, these issues can be addressed.
Oral appliances are custom and prefabricated devices that you wear over your teeth. These devices look like retainers and are typically worn in the evenings and during sleep and removed during the day. By changing the position of the tongue, jaw, and sometimes teeth; many medical issues can be rectified.
Oral appliances are another choice to treat airway issues if patients cannot tolerate CPAP, or do not want to undergo risky surgeries.
What are the benefits of oral appliances?
Some of the benefits you can expect after choosing custom oral appliances at Breathe Airway include:
- Reduced snoring
- Improved airflow and breathing
- Better sleep quality
- Optimal comfortability
- Ease of use
- Noninvasive treatment
- Highly effective results
- Fewer morning headaches
- Less daytime fatigue
- Less teeth crowding
- Proper guidance of the jaws and teeth as children grow
Oral appliances may reduce symptoms associated with sleep apnea, temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ/TMD), or other issues that affect the quality of your sleep.
Are oral appliances right for me?
The Breathe Airway team will discuss your symptoms, lifestyle, sleep habits, and medical history to determine if you’re a candidate for oral appliances. After completing a physical examination, they may recommend an oral appliance to treat the condition that affects you.
What should I expect during treatment with oral appliances?
Your Breathe Airway specialist may digitally scan your teeth and mouth so a lab can create a custom-fitted oral appliance that fits in your mouth comfortably. They may also fit you with a prefabricated appliance as well. Either way, you will begin wearing it in the evenings and at night, or as directed by your provider.
Therapy can last from months to years depending on the patient. Typically, the more compliant the individual, the faster therapy will go. Routine medical exams will be needed as you are treated with short exams scheduled every three or four months.
If you are compliant with your therapy, you can expect improvement in your underlying condition, and sometimes a complete resolution of your symptoms.
Call the Breathe Airway office if your oral appliance gets damaged or worn down. Your provider helps you replace the appliance as needed to ensure you maintain exceptional long-term outcomes.
Call the office or schedule an appointment online today to learn more about oral appliances available at Breathe Airway.