Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) affects around one in four men over 30 years. The symptoms include waking up with a very sore or dry throat, loud snoring, occasionally waking up with a choking or gasping sensation, sleepiness or lack of energy during the day or morning headaches, etc.
Common sleep apnea treatment options are positive airway pressure therapy (non-invasive) CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure), oral appliance therapy (non-invasive) and surgery (invasive).
Positive airway pressure machines, used with a variety of breathing masks, are the most widely used treatment for moderate and severe sleep apnea. Oral appliances for the treatment of sleep apnea continue to increase in popularity as awareness grows amongst the public that oral appliances are an effective first line treatment for many sleep apnea sufferers.
Oral appliance therapy is an effective, non-invasive treatment that fits easily into your lifestyle. Advantages of oral appliance therapy include:
Comfortable
Easy to wear
Quiet
Portable
Convenient for travel
Easy to care for
Although there are a few over-the-counter Boil and Bites appliances you can purchase at drug stores or even online, custom made oral appliance by dentists are the best for sleep apnea. When not fitted properly over-the-counter appliances can cause unwanted side effects, such as jaw problems or tooth movement or can even have the opposite effect and inadvertently worsen sleep apnea.