Dental Device Systems as an Alternative to C.P.A.P. For the Treatment of Sleep Apnoea

Qualified Sleep Medicine Dentists offer Sleep Apnoea Oral Appliance Therapy, Mandibular Advancement Device Therapy, MAD. The Sleep Apnoea Oral Appliance Systems are suitable for most patients with mild to moderate Obstructive Sleep Apnoea who have attempted C.P.A.P. (Continuous Positive Airways Pressure). Oral Device therapy is also suitable for patients who have been prescribed C.P.A.P. therapy and cannot tolerate the C.P.A.P. machine, finding it claustrophobic, often contributing to ongoing night-time disruption to sleep. The C.P.A.P. machine can also cause night-time disruption to a bed partner’s sleep, contributing to further domestic disharmony.

The results of the Sleep Study enable a Specialist Sleep Dentist, in collaboration with a Medical Consultant in Sleep Medicine, to prescribe the most effective Sleep Apnoea Oral Appliance Therapy (MAD) to manage the presenting clinical condition.

Mandibular Advancement Device Therapy Systems

The most common type of appliance is the Mandibular Advancement Device Systems, MAD, which move the mandible (lower jaw or jawbone) marginally forward, determining the most optimal position, where the most therapeutic benefit of device therapy can be reached, alleviating the symptoms of airway obstruction.

Using your Sleep Apnoea Oral Appliance System, MAD, requires initial evaluation for precise device fit and therapeutic effectiveness. Device adjustments are managed to ensure comfortable wear, avoiding any potential jaw joint or dental issues, which are avoided where comprehensive patient assessment, treatment planning and precise device selection has been completed, for each individual patient’s presenting symptoms and anatomical presentation.

Specialist Sleep Dentists will manage optimal device therapy outcomes, until your OSA condition has been objectively evaluated in collaboration with a Medical Sleep Specialist, determining the progressive, successful management of the presenting condition. This may typically require a repeat Sleep Study, while wearing the Mandibular Advancement Device Appliance (M.A.D.).

Mandibular Advancement Device (also called Mandibular Repositioning Device)

Follow-Up

Once Mandibular Advancement Appliance Therapy is determined to be optimally beneficial, annually attendance for device performance evaluation, verification the precision fit and effectiveness of your Oral Appliance is recommended. Follow up Medical Sleep Specialist reviews are also recommended.

With time, changes may occur in soft tissue and dental conditions. This may make it necessary to be fitted with a new Oral Appliance. Mandibular Advancement Device design is continuously evolving. The device systems have become slimmer, more efficient, with in-built device position variations, allowing for individualised patient variations, i.e. weight loss or gain, to be incorporated into ongoing device performance.