Will this therapy work for me? Part 1: Oral Appliances

You’ve been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and your healthcare provider has told you about some treatment options. Which one is best for you?

In this series of blogs, we’ll explore the different treatment options for snoring and OSA, and how they may benefit you. Today, let’s look at oral appliance therapy with mandibular advancement splints (MAS).

Oral appliance therapy (OAT with a MAS)

MAS are like sleep mouthguards. They come in many types, sizes and colours. The most common type will ‘advance’ the jaw, moving it forward to open up your airway. Oral appliances have many names, such as MAD, MRD and TRD.

A MAS is a good option for people with mild-moderate OSA. It’s important to consider the following factors:

Tongue position

Bringing the jaw forward creates room in the mouth. But what about the tongue? Correct tongue position ensures the tongue can’t block the airway.

Comfort

Consider a custom-made MAS that will support natural nasal breathing. Every millimetre matters. Is the MAS strong at just 1.5mm thick?

Durability

Is the MAS made of a long-lasting material? A material like 3D-printed white nylon is strong and easy to clean.

Adjustability

Can the MAS be fine-tuned to suit your sleep? Easy adjustment ensures your treatment can be tailored without extra expense.

Things to avoid

·         Too many clip-on pieces where germs hide

·         Screws that can capture plaque

·         Soft liners that make your breath stink

·         Moulded airways inside the appliance that you can never clean

·         Hinges that stick into your cheeks

We’ll look at tongue position in Part 2: Tongue Position is Everything.

Interested in finding out how Aer Healthcare can help you? You can book in for a five minute phone call: https://AerOnline.as.me/FreeConsult