dental appliance

[Urbany]

Has anyone tried using dental appliances for OSA? How do the results compare to using the CPAP?

[Mtnviewer]

There are several on this forum whom I've read that have tried one kind or another. If you do a search you'll find some posts. I used one for well over a year, and it did not help me much at all. I tried CPAP, actually an APAP, and had MUCH MUCH better results nearly right away, even though there were many idiosynchracies with PAP therapy to solve, such as mask type, leaks, pressure settings and range, and so on. Personally, I would not recommend it to anyone as an alternative to PAP therapy unless their OSA was so incredibly mild and fatigue was nearly a non issue. They can be very expensive, don't last forever, and if jaw advancement is part of the oral appliance, then be VERY prepared for the change in your teeth and bite as a side effect, and not a pleasant side effect either if your jaw advancement continues. PAP therapy was so much easier to get used to as well and with this forum, there is much better info to help one with PAP therapy.

Try an inexpensive but good quality type first. Everyone is different and perhaps it could work for you? But do you research and buyer beware. I regret wasting my time and money on it and as the orthodontist said, I was an "ideal" candidate for success. Actually, I felt like an "ideal" sucker after finding out how much better, safer and cheaper that PAP therapy is in comparison.

[muskyjack]

A dental appliance is a big gamble both $ and toothwise.
I did go see a dentist who advertised that he specialised in the dental appliances. Before I even could talk to the dentist had to sign a informed consent that the appliance may not work plus that it may damage the teeth and/or bite. The dentist told me that health insurance may or may not cover the appliance plus he wanted me to have a new sleep study at a certain sleep lab before going any futher. In his ads/website that home sleep studies can be used but when I got to the appointment he told me that only time they are used is after someone gets the appliance.

Needless to say I did not persue the appliance futher.

[montana user]

I am currently working with our local dentist who is just starting to use the dental devices. According to her there are several tests she performs, measurements, etc to make sure you are a good candidate. Her patients also HAVE to have a Sleep study with Mild apnea results. Anything other than mild, she states the dental device will not work. After the person wears the dental device for several weeks, they come back to the sleep lab wearing the device and we see if it is improving. We have our first referral from the dentist coming up a in a couple weeks. I will start a thread when we get the test results from this patient!

[brain_cloud]

Has anyone tried using dental appliances for OSA? How do the results compare to using the CPAP?

My interest in the idea of dental appliances is the question of whether it can provide the double function of preventing mouth breathing as well as lowering my therapeutic pressure in a significant way. I currently run apap from 13-16 and it would be sweet to be able to drop that a few points. Anybody know of any study results where they titrate people with and without the dental appliance? I fear most or all of the dental appliance research is focused on how the appliance performs as the sole therapy.