Like CPAP, oral appliances have their limitations. Otherwise there would be no need for other sleep apnea treatments.
Oral appliances:
- Can’t treat central or mixed forms of sleep apnea
- Are usually not recommended as a first treatment for severe sleep apnea
- Can cause tooth and TMJ problems if poorly fitted
Since people are more likely to develop central sleep apnea after long periods with obstructive sleep apnea, it’s best to seek sleep apnea treatment early. With severe sleep apnea, you might not be able to reposition your jaw enough to fully open your airway and keep it open.
However, sometimes sleep dentists will try to push your jaw too far to try to keep your airway open at night. This can result in tooth and jaw problems, including development of
TMJ, temporomandibular joint disorder. Although TMJ is not as life-threatening as sleep apnea, it is nonetheless a damaging and debilitating condition. At the Michigan Center for TMJ & Sleep Wellness, we are always aware of the connection between these two conditions and ensure that our oral appliances are fitted so they don’t cause TMJ problems and may provide therapeutic benefit.
To learn more about getting the best results from oral appliance therapy in Detroit, please call
(248) 480-0085
or
email
the Michigan Center for TMJ & Sleep Wellness.