Many people who use a CPAP machine for sleep apnea do not use it as intended. In fact, about 30% to 50% of people with this form of treatment do not use it at all. If you are considering getting treatment from your dentist for your sleep apnea, you might be wondering how long this treatment will take. Read on to learn more.
A patient should get a customized oral appliance from a dentist. This will help the appliance to fit the patient properly. If the appliance does not fit properly, then the patient may develop problems with the bite. This can eventually lead to tooth loss.
A dentist will make a plaster mold of the patient’s teeth, although digital impressions are also options for patients. For plaster molds, the dentist will fill plastic trays with a quick-drying material and place it in the patient’s mouth.
These molds will allow a dentist to create plaster molds of the patient’s teeth. The dentist will also examine how far forward the patient’s bite can currently go. When the lower jaw moves forward, the airway is opened up more. By moving the patient’s lower jaw forward, the dentist will be able to determine how effective the treatment might be for the patient.
A laboratory will often create the appliance based off the molds. This is usually made from acrylic plastic. The appliance will be similar to a retainer and fit over the patient’s teeth to maintain the new bite. During the patient’s second appointment, the oral appliance can be adjusted on the patient. The dentist can make these adjustments to make the appliance more comfortable.
In general, an oral appliance is designed to be worn every night after it has been optimized for the patient. The treatment period can be anywhere between two to six months. The degree of advancement for the patient’s jaw will be increased gradually. The lower jaw will be pulled forward in the beginning, and the patient will gradually get used to this. The tension will keep increasing until it has been optimized.
A patient may need to have a second sleep study done to determine how effective the treatment is. It is a good idea to have this second sleep study done at the same place where the first study was done. If necessary, more adjustments can be made to the patient’s device to make it more effective.
The length of time to optimize your oral appliance for sleep apnea will depend on your individual condition, as well as your facial structure. For example, if your jaw moves forward easily, then this treatment time may not take as long as for someone with a receded jaw. It is a good idea to have another assessment done after your device has been optimized. This will help you to see if it is working well.
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