Oral Appliances for Sleep Apnea

Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT) is a safe and effective alternative to CPAP for the treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Oral Appliances for Sleep Apnea

Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT) is a safe and effective alternative to CPAP for the treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Schedule a Free Consultation

CPAP Alternatives

Though CPAP therapy is considered the gold-standard in treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), it may not be right for everyone. If you have mild-to-moderate sleep apnea and have struggled with CPAP treatment, Oral Appliance Therapy may be your key to restful sleep.

Do Dental Appliances Really Work for Sleep Apnea Treatment?

Independent studies have shown that custom-fit oral appliances– such as Mandibular Advancement Devices (MAD)– are clinically effective in treating OSA.1 These devices are proven to significantly reduce the number of apnea-hypopnea events in many sleep apnea patients.2

Reducing apneas means reducing the symptoms of OSA. For many that means improved daytime sleepiness, lower blood pressure, as well as increased sleep quality and quality of life.

How Does Oral Appliance Therapy Work?

The most common type of oral appliance for treating sleep apnea is the Mandibular Advancement Device (MAD)– sometimes referred to as a “sleep apnea mouth guard”. These devices fit into your mouth like a retainer and ease your lower jaw into proper position. This allows the soft tissues at the back of your throat to relax without blocking your upper airway.

More advanced oral devices, such as the O2Vent Optima, also feature an in-built airway channel that directs airflow past common areas of blockage– like the tongue and soft palate.

MADs often feature adjustable hinges or connector-bands, which control how far your jaw is advanced. For effective treatment, your MAD dental device should be custom-fit and adjusted under the supervision of a dentist or sleep specialist.

The O2Vent Optima by Oventus

“The 02Vent Optima is revolutionizing the treatment of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. A new modality of sleep treatment, taking traditional oral appliances to the next level.”

Find Out If the O2Vent Is Right For You

Aeroflow Sleep is proud to offer the O2Vent Optima by Oventus. The O2Vent Optima is the next advancement in alternative treatment of sleep apnea. That’s because the Optima is the only oral appliance with an in-built airway to direct airflow where you need it most. This makes the O2Vent more effective than traditional mandibular advancement.3

Crafted from medical-grade nylon, the O2Vent Optima is lightweight yet extremely durable.
3D-printing allows Oventus to achieve 98% precision fit based on custom impression molds, so it’s comfortable and easy to use night after night. In fact, user studies have shown the majority of patients feel confident in their ability to continue using the O2Vent Optima.

91%

91% of patients would continue to use their O2Vent Optima

80%

80% of patients found it easy to adjust to using O2Vent Optima

95%

95% of patients found O2Vent Optima easy to clean

If you’ve been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, a CPAP machine or invasive surgery aren’t your only treatment options. Schedule a free consultation with a licensed dental assistant to talk about whether the O2Vent Optima is right for you.

Oral Appliance Therapy from Your Own Living Room

Aeroflow Sleep makes it easy to get a precision-fit mouthpiece from the comfort and safety of your own home! With a few simple clicks, everything you need will be shipped right to your door.

  1. First, schedule your free consultation with a licensed dental assistant to discuss whether the O2Vent Optima is right for you.
  2. Once you receive your impressions kit by mail, a board-certified dentist will perform an oral examination and guide you through taking your dental impressions– all via telemedicine from the comfort of your home!
  3. Drop your impressions in your mailbox with the prepaid bubble pouch provided for you.
  4. You’ll receive your custom-fit O2Vent Optima shipped straight to your door. A dentist will then walk you through how to fit and adjust your mouthpiece for comfortable and effective relief from OSA.
Schedule Your Free Consultation

Sources:

[1] Verburg F., Bollen K., Donker HJ, Kramer G., The effectiveness of two types of MADs for OSA therapy. Clin Oral Invetigation 2018. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5945916

[2] Skalna M., Novak V., Buzga M., et al., Oral appliance effectiveness and patient satisfaction with obstructive sleep apnea treatment in adults. Med Sci Monitor 2019. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6346846/

[3] McCloy K., Lavery D., Moldavtsev J., Airway open-airway closed: The effect of mandibular advancement therapy for obstructive sleep apnea with and without a novel in-built airway. Abstract Submitted ASA Brisbane 2018.

Frequently Asked Questions

MADs like the O2Vent Optima have been shown to alleviate the symptoms of OSA, such as snoring, daytime sleepiness, and concentration issues.

Unlike a CPAP machine, however, an oral appliance is easy to travel with and doesn’t require electricity. MADs may also be easier for some patients to adhere to treatment.

Yes! Most commercial insurance providers will cover an oral appliance for the treatment of sleep apnea.

Like with CPAP, you’ll need to provide a current prescription, as well as the results of a recent sleep study to make sure your oral appliance is adjusted to your needs.

Your Aeroflow Sleep Specialist can connect directly with your doctor and your insurance provider to obtain these for you!

Yes! Medicare will cover an oral appliance for the treatment of sleep apnea through reimbursement– provided you purchase it through an approved DME.

Your Aeroflow Sleep Specialist can help you gather what you’ll need to submit your claim for reimbursement!

No! Though they may look similar, bruxism orthodontics and sports mouthpieces are not designed to address the symptoms of sleep disorders like OSA.

And unlike “ready made” or “boil and bite” mouthpieces which may cause teeth and bite alignment issues, MADs are custom-fit under the guidance of a dentistry professional.

Sleep apnea is a dangerous sleep disorder that currently affects over 22 million Americans, but an estimated 80% of cases remain undiagnosed. Sleep apnea is dangerous because when it occurs your breathing repeatedly stops multiple times during the night. This cuts off your oxygen supply, and your body has to work hard to restore airflow. As a result, you may thrash in your sleep, have elevated blood pressure, or wake up coughing or gasping for air. All of which prevents your body from getting proper, restorative rest.

There are three types of sleep apnea:

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)

OSA is the most common sleep apnea type. It occurs when fatty neck tissues or muscles collapse on your throat while you sleep, blocking your upper airway.

Central sleep apnea (CSA)

CSA occurs when the signals from your brain to your muscles that control your breathing get mixed up or lost. As a result, your body stops breathing.

Mixed sleep apnea

If you have symptoms of both OSA and CSA then you have mixed sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea symptoms can be hard to detect as they occur while you sleep. Most people assume they are just tired and don’t know that they have a sleep disorder. Common symptoms include:

  • Excessive snoring
  • Chronic day time fatigue
  • Weight gain
  • Hypertension
  • Waking with a headache, dry mouth, or sore throat
  • Gasping or choking during the night
  • Irritability or mood swings
  • Insomnia

Note: Even though snoring is a big indicator of sleep apnea, you can have it without snoring. Also, symptoms may appear differently in women.

If you have any sleep apnea symptoms it’s important to contact your doctor immediately for a sleep study. The test will record your oxygen levels, heart rate, and breathing to monitor the number of apneas (periods when your breathing stops) you have during the night and their severity.

There are two main sleep tests:

Polysomnography Lab Sleep Study

An overnight polysomnographic evaluation at an accredited sleep center monitors your heart rhythm, brain waves, breathing rate, and airflow while you sleep. An in-lab sleep test offers the most accurate and comprehensive assessment of your condition. It provides clinicians with the best information with which to make an obstructive sleep apnea diagnosis.

Home Sleep Study

A home sleep test (unattended sleep study) can diagnosis obstructive sleep apnea form the comfort of your own bed. Generally, it measures oxygen saturation, heart rate, airflow, movement in your chest and abdomen.

Get a home sleep test »

There are several treatment options available such as CPAP, oral appliances, surgery, and surgical implants. CPAP remains the gold standard for treating sleep apnea, but we’ll work with you and your physician to help find the right treatment option.

Frequently Asked Questions

MADs like the O2Vent Optima have been shown to alleviate the symptoms of OSA, such as snoring, daytime sleepiness, and concentration issues.

Unlike a CPAP machine, however, an oral appliance is easy to travel with and doesn’t require electricity. MADs may also be easier for some patients to adhere to treatment.

Yes! Most commercial insurance providers will cover an oral appliance for the treatment of sleep apnea.

Like with CPAP, you’ll need to provide a current prescription, as well as the results of a recent sleep study to make sure your oral appliance is adjusted to your needs.

Your Aeroflow Sleep Specialist can connect directly with your doctor and your insurance provider to obtain these for you!

Yes! Medicare will cover an oral appliance for the treatment of sleep apnea through reimbursement– provided you purchase it through an approved DME.

Your Aeroflow Sleep Specialist can help you gather what you’ll need to submit your claim for reimbursement!

No! Though they may look similar, bruxism orthodontics and sports mouthpieces are not designed to address the symptoms of sleep disorders like OSA.

And unlike “ready made” or “boil and bite” mouthpieces which may cause teeth and bite alignment issues, MADs are custom-fit under the guidance of a dentistry professional.

Sleep apnea is a dangerous sleep disorder that currently affects over 22 million Americans, but over 80% of cases remain undiagnosed. Sleep apnea is dangerous because it occurs when your breathing repeatedly stops multiple times during the night. This cuts off your oxygen supply, and your body has to work hard to restore airflow. As a result, you may thrash in your sleep, have elevated blood pressure, or wake up coughing or gasping for air. All of which prevents your body from getting proper, restorative rest.

There are three types of sleep apnea:

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)

OSA is the most common sleep apnea type. It occurs when fatty neck tissues or muscles collapse on your throat while you sleep, blocking your upper airway.

Central sleep apnea (CSA)

CSA occurs when the signals from your brain to your muscles that control your breathing get mixed up or lost. As a result, your body stops breathing.

Mixed sleep apnea

If you have symptoms of both OSA and CSA then you have mixed sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea symptoms can be hard to miss as they occur while you sleep. Most people assume they are just tired and don’t know that they have a sleep disorder until they are filmed sleeping and caught snoring loudly or gasping for air on tape. Common symptoms include:

  • Excessive snoring
  • Chronic day time fatigue
  • Weight gain
  • Hypertension
  • Waking with a headache, dry mouth, or sore throat
  • Gasping or choking during the night
  • Irritability or mood swings
  • Insomnia

Note: Even though snoring is a big indicator of sleep apnea, you can have it without snoring. Also, symptoms may appear differently in women.

If you have any sleep apnea symptoms, it’s important to contact your doctor.

There are two main sleep tests:

Lab sleep study

For a lab sleep study you will visit a clinic for an overnight visit to sleep with various cords and machines recording your stats. Lab studies are often more expensive but give more detailed results.

Home Sleep Study

A home sleep test (unattended sleep study) can diagnosis obstructive sleep apnea form the comfort of your own bed. Generally, it measures oxygen saturation, heart rate, airflow, movement in your chest and abdomen.

Get a home sleep test »

There are several treatment options available such as CPAP, oral appliances, surgery, and surgical implants. CPAP remains the gold standard for treating sleep apnea, but we’ll work with you and your physician to help find the right treatment option.

Read More