Have you been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea? Are you still struggling with feeling tired all the time, headaches, and difficulty sleeping? While you may feel hopeless and defeated, certified sleep dentists offer help and hope with a custom oral appliance.
Unlike CPAP machines, custom oral appliances are not a one-size-fits-all treatment. A sleep dentist examines each patient and designs an oral appliance, or mandibular advancement device (MAD), that is comfortable and effective. The MAD works by preventing the tongue from blocking the throat and/or pushing the lower jaw forward.
Continue reading to learn about the process for receiving an oral appliance and its benefits.
Process for An Oral Appliance
The first step toward receiving an oral appliance is to find an experienced and highly regarded sleep dentist. Once you have been approved for the device, the dentist will make an impression of your teeth that is used to make the device.
The impressions are sent to a dental lab where a technician crafts the custom appliance. Once it returns to the dentist, the patient will come back for a fitting. As long as the MAD fits, the patient can leave with it the same day! Minor adjustments can be made in the office if necessary.
Your dentist should talk with you about how to wear the device and what to expect in the next few days and weeks. While your symptoms may lessen, the dentist should be focused on the effect it is having on your respiratory system. According to this recent publication, the cessation of snoring and other symptoms doesn’t always equate to a healthier body. That’s why it is so important to choose a qualified and experienced sleep dentist to work with.
Benefits of A Custom Oral Appliance
CPAP machines are an incredible option for many patients and can actually be used in conjunction with custom oral appliances. However, many sleep apnea patients complain about the sounds that the machine makes throughout the night as well as the uncomfortable mask.
Custom oral appliances, or mandibular advancement devices, are a more comfortable and quieter alternative to CPAP machines. Patients also prefer this treatment because of its convenience while traveling and easy maintenance.
Patients who consistently wear their oral appliance report feeling more energetic, focused, calm, and alert. Their partners usually report sleeping better as well because of less snoring and/or no noise from a CPAP machine.
Dr. Mick’s custom oral appliances have proven to be effective not just at stopping snoring and other symptoms but improving the quality of life for sleep apnea patients.
Our Certified Sleep Dentist
Searching for a highly qualified sleep dentist? Dr. Timothy Mickiewicz, also known as the “Face of Dental Sleep Medicine,” has spent his career searching for an alternative treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. His custom oral appliance has given so many patients their lives back.
Dr. Mick is passionate about helping people live their lives to the fullest. This desire has driven him to become one of the pioneers of dental sleep medicine, specializing in dental sleep medicine, and becoming double board-certified through the Academy of Clinical Sleep Disorders Disciplines. In addition to treating patients, he also lectures other dentists on sleep medicine throughout the year.
Contact Us Today
Ready to feel more alert, focused, happy, and energetic? Our team at the office of Dr. Timothy Mickiewicz is prepared to help! To schedule an initial consultation with Dr. Mick, call (916) 469-9178 today.
