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Oral Appliance Therapy

Chase Dental Sleepcare

Dental Sleep Medicine located in New York City, Long Island & NY Metro Area

At Chase Dental SleepCare, the board-certified dental sleep specialists provide comprehensive care for a wide range of sleep disorders. If you suffer from issues like snoring and sleep apnea, oral appliance therapy is a safe and effective treatment option. Chase Dental SleepCare has several convenient locations in New York: East Meadow, Commack, Williston Park, and Hicksville in Long Island; Oakland Gardens and Sunnyside in Queens; Lenox Hill and the Upper East Side in Manhattan; Midwood in Brooklyn; Staten Island; and Scarsdale and Medford, New York. To schedule your assessment, call one of the offices today or book your appointment online.

Oral Appliance Therapy Q & A

What is obstructive sleep apnea?

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a condition that causes your breathing to periodically stop as you sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the muscles in the throat relax and block your airways. 

There are a number of causes for obstructive sleep apnea including an underdeveloped jaw and narrow dental arches. Excessive body weight can also narrow the airways resulting in interrupted breathing. Most patients with obstructive sleep apnea are overweight. 

What is snoring?

Snoring occurs when airflow passing the relaxed tissue in your throat causes vibrations. Although snoring can occur on its own, it is often a sign of obstructive sleep apnea. Snoring can disrupt your sleep, but it doesn't cause you to stop breathing. Snoring can be influenced by your sleeping position, nasal issues, and the anatomy of your mouth. 

Oral appliance therapy is effective at addressing the underlying cause of issues like OSA and snoring. Patients treated with oral appliance therapy can restore their sleep health without surgery, injections, or drugs. 

How does oral appliance therapy work?

Oral appliance therapy uses removable custom-fit mouthpieces to create space in the airway as you sleep. There are two types of oral appliances primarily used for this type of therapy:

Mandibular repositioning devices

Mandibular repositioning devices are mouthpieces that reposition the lower jaw to keep your airway open as you sleep. Mandibular repositioning devices are the most common type of oral appliance therapy. 

Tongue retaining devices

Tongue retaining devices work by holding the tongue in place to increase airflow as you sleep. Tongue retaining devices use gentle suction to keep the tongue in a forward position and prevent it from obstructing the airway. 

Oral appliance therapy is often used as a more tolerable alternative to treatments like continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). During your complimentary consultation, your doctor evaluates your condition and determines the best treatment options for you. Oral appliance devices are small, easy to use, and custom-fitted for optimal effectiveness. 

What should I expect during my appointment?

Oral appliance therapy happens in two stages. The first is your complimentary consultation. Your dentist performs a dental airway assessment and evaluates the severity of your condition to determine treatment options. Your dentist then selects the best oral device for your condition. 

The second stage is the follow-up stage. After you begin using the oral appliance, you periodically follow-up with your dentist to evaluate the progress of your treatment. 

To speak with a dental sleep specialist about your condition, book an appointment at Chase Dental SleepCare by phone or online today. 

 

We see patients in the following surrounding cities: Manhattan, NYC, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Call us to book your appointment today.