Other Sleep Apnea Treatment Appliances

Sugarland, Galveston, Houston, and Katy, Texas

If you are suffering from sleep apnea, it can be hard to find a treatment that works. What some consider to be the "gold standard" of sleep apnea therapy, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), is only tolerated by about a quarter of those for whom it is prescribed. Oral appliance therapy works for many people who find they cannot adjust to CPAP treatment. Since sleep apnea is a potentially deadly illness, it is important to find a treatment that works not just in theory, not just for the majority, but one that works for you on a nightly basis.

It is for this reason that Dr. Konig works with a wide variety of oral appliances. Although the goal of all these appliances is the same--the reduction of snoring and/or sleep apnea - their approach can be very different, and your overall results in everything from quality of sleep to mouth dryness to jaw comfort can be different as well.

SUAD

SUAD is a variation on the Herbst appliance, a mandibular repositioning dental appliance that has been in use for treating snoring and mild to moderate sleep apnea since its approval by the FDA in 1996. The SUAD system retains all the advantages of the Herbst appliance, but adds an internal metal framework for increased durability and lifespan. The SUAD has two main advantages. First, it allows the jaw to move more freely at night than most other appliances. Second, the SUAD is highly adjustable, allowing for fine adjustments to be made to the appliance to achieve the best possible therapeutic results.

OASYS

OASYS, the Oral/nasal Airway SYStem is a device that combines both mandibular repositioning and nasal dilation to reduce snoring and sleep apnea. The OASYS is designed to minimize the amount of stress put on your teeth at night by only fitting over the lower teeth and having a flange that fits in front of the upper teeth. This allows lateral movement of the two arches as well as forward (and downward) motion of the lower jaw. The OASYS only restricts the critical posterior motion of the lower jaw, and even allows you to breath freely through your mouth. The OASYS is ideal for people whose breathing is restricted not only in the throat but also in the nasal cavity.

Silent Nite

Silent Nite is one of the most commonly prescribed snoring prevention appliances because it is flexible, comfortable, and durable. It has been shown clinically to dramatically improve snoring in most patients, and may also help cases of mild sleep apnea. Made with a durable hard outer layer and a comfortable soft inner layer, the Silent Nite is an excellent compromise between comfort and successful treatment. Because it does not interfere with mouth breathing or restrict the motion of the jaw, patients report little discomfort from the use of the Silent Nite device.

Silencer Professional

The Silencer System consists of three main components, The main body of the appliance, which fits over the teeth, is made of an elastomer that is softer and more comfortable than the acrylic body of most appliances, such as the SUAD and the OASYS. However, the Silencer system has acrylic bite pads are placed in the molar region, where the majority of force of the bite is placed. The precision adjustment of the appliance is supplied by a uniquely designed titanium hinge. The hinge is made of implant-grade titanium and is engineered for durability, adjustability (through a range of 10 mm!), and protection of the temporomandibular joint.

Tongue Retaining Device

Most of these oral appliances are designed to reposition the mandible to reduce constriction of the throat, but the tongue retaining device works differently. For people whose main problem is posterior motion of the tongue, this unique device holds the tongue in position though the creation of negative pressure in the vacuum bulb at the front of the appliance. It is not rigidly held in place by the teeth, allowing free movement of the jaws, a high degree of comfort and low impact on the teeth and jaws.

The Right Fit

None of these devices represent the "best" treatment for all snorers and sleep apnea sufferers. Instead, they all represent good treatments and the question is which is best for you and your situation. The only way to learn which appliance suits you is to schedule a snoring and sleep apnea consultation with a sleep dentist like Dr. Ronald W. Konig at the Konig Center for Cosmetic and Comprehensive Dentistry.