Dental procedures and sleep tests? Is it possible?

If I went to a dentist and got those molds made for my jaw/teeth/tongue placement.......how come I wouldn't be able to use them when I have a sleep study?
In the past, I've read here there is. O way to test them to see if they really work. Rather individuals simply say if they sleep better or not.
But, why can't we wear them to a sleep study? If they work I would record a low ahi with out the mask ever being applied.
Correct?
Maybe the folks who do the sleep study make there money on the sleep apnea machines, thus if we use the dental procedures and we record no apneas the they would be out of business and all of this business they get would go to the dentist???
I just don't see why we can't have a sleep study with these applications present. Or can we? Where is the data?
Thx

Your molds may help you sleep better, but using them during the study will not always give a true picture. If you do have apnea, your molds may not be helping unless you have mild apnea. If you have severe apnea, the molds probably won't keep your airway open. The throat might close up while the molds keep your mouth open. Do your molds go down your throat to keep your airway open? Molds are usually recommended only for mild apnea.

Sleep studies are not for evaluation of individual devices, but to get a complete picture of anything that arises when you sleep... the 'worst case scenario', so the doctors know what your untreated problems are and the extent of them. If you wear or take anything before the test, apart from a mild relaxant (for those with real insomnia) the results won't reflect your true diagnosis and your treatment won't be effective.

library lady wrote:Your molds may help you sleep better, but using them during the study will not always give a true picture. If you do have apnea, your molds may not be helping unless you have mild apnea. If you have severe apnea, the molds probably won't keep your airway open. The throat might close up while the molds keep your mouth open. Do your molds go down your throat to keep your airway open? Molds are usually recommended only for mild apnea.

If we're talking about dental appliance, adjustable ones generally have a 75% chance of getting the AHI to below 5 for mild apnea, 60% for moderate, and 40% for severe. Please click on the link in my signature for more information.

Is there something like a split study without the dental device and then with it Tango could do through if this is first study? Not sure about insurance coverage.

Is this your first sleep study?
The others are correct--a device might sully the results of the diagnostic sleep study.
If your desire is to find out if the device helps with your already diagnosed apnea,
then insurance is not likely to pay for the study--and you will have to finance it yourself.

chunkyfrog wrote:Is this your first sleep study?
The others are correct--a device might sully the results of the diagnostic sleep study.
If your desire is to find out if the device helps with your already diagnosed apnea,
then insurance is not likely to pay for the study--and you will have to finance it yourself.

Depends on the insurance company. Some people have gotten coverage for a dental device, particularly if it is for mild to moderate apnea which has a better track record of effectiveness vs. the severe range which doesn't work as well.

Anyway, it never hurts to ask although if Tango's insurance company is like mine, he might regret it.