Mandibular advancement devices (MAD) is an effective treatment for snoring and sleep apnea. It can also be referred to as mandibular repositioning devices (MRD).
As per the American Sleep Apnea Association, millions of people across America United States snore while sleeping. Snoring isn’t just an annoying sound, but it can disrupt someone’s sleep and affect the quality of their sleep.
The Mandibular Advancement Device could be one option. Read on to find out more.
Around 22 million people in the U.S. have obstructive sleep apnea. When a person’s body relaxes, their throat relaxes, too. The relaxation causes an airway narrowing and produces distinct snoring sounds while breathing.
Sleep apnea is a disorder where the throat’s walls are completely closed, blocking breathing.
A lot of people don’t realize that they suffer from sleep apnea. Common symptoms, besides snoring, include:
being tired and sluggish throughout the daytime
awakening suddenly in the night
difficulties in focusing and memory
Pauses in breathing during sleep and a spouse is likely to notice.
Headaches in the early morning
If you think you might be suffering from this issue may be interested in an examination of their sleep, which will confirm the existence of sleep apnea. If the condition is diagnosed an expert in sleep can suggest treatment options.
The treatments for sleep apnea can include:
Lifestyle changes, like changing sleeping positions, losing weight, and allergy treatment
surgery
continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) appliance
oral devices, like MADs, for instance. MAD
CPAP is one of the commonly used treatment for sleep apnea.
A MAD is a different treatment option that patients may test. It is a temporary method of moving the tongue and jaw forward, which decreases constriction of the throat and stops sleep apnea as well as snoring. The tongue moving forward can increase the airway space.
Certain MADs are semi-custom or custom and are designed to fit a particular person’s mouth. Others are also known as boil-and-bite MADs, can be purchased on the market (OTC). They are made of soft materials that expand and become more flexible upon the heat of hot water. By squeezing the mold’s flexible material helps to fit the device.
The authors of the 2018 review state that further research is needed to assess the efficacy of each kind of MAD.
It is crucial to remember it is important to note MADs are not appropriate for those who wear dentures or suffer from serious dental problems.
The primary benefit of the MA device is the fact that it reduces the snoring problem and sleep apnea.
A study from 2000 on 22 individuals’ use of MADs for 12 to 30 months indicates that these devices can be useful in treating sleep apnea as well as snoring.
The majority of participants wanted to use the MADs. The number of participants was rather tiny.
Based on the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners the people most likely to reap the greatest benefit from MADs are:
people with moderate to mild sleep apnea
young people
those with sleep apnea who improves when they sleep on their backs
females
people who have a jaw structure that receds (also called a retrognathic mandible)
The following individuals are less likely to experience improvements in symptoms with MADs:
older adults
people who are overweight and who have excess fat tissue around their necks
people with stiff jaws that are stiff, making it difficult to advance
patients with dental issues like gum disease
People suffering from central sleep apnea. This is a neurological disorder instead of a mechanical one
Find out more about central sleep Apnea here.
While a MAD may help reduce the symptoms of sleep apnea and snoring, it can also cause adverse consequences. They can be:
discomfort in the jaw and mouth region
toothache
excessive drooling
dry mouth
gum irritation
The negative effects of the use of the MA device are typically mild. However, they may cause people to avoid treatment using an MAD.
Although CPAP is the most effective method treatment for sleep apnea, patients aren’t always keeping up with the treatment. Around 50% of those who are using CPAP treatment to treat sleep apnea ultimately stop treatment.
A study published in The Journal of Thoracic Disease indicates that MADs can be beneficial for patients with mild sleep apnea, or who struggle in CPAP treatment.
CPAP can be more efficient overall than MADs to treat sleep apnea. However, some people prefer to utilize MADs more frequently and this treatment is less expensive than CPAP.
Comparatively to CPAP, MADs are portable and take up virtually none of the space in your bedroom, and don’t generate noise. They do not even require power. But, they’re not suitable for all people.
The American Thoracic Society explain that MADs can be beneficial in reducing symptoms, but they are not effective in stopping sleep apnea. They also note the fact that CPAP will more often offer immediate relief from the symptoms of sleep apnea.
Alongside CPAP and MADs sleep apnea treatment choices include:
Surgery: A surgical procedure to treat sleep apnea typically involves the removal of any excess tissue from the throat’s back to lessen airway obstruction.
Loss of weight: This long-term strategy will help alleviate sleep apnea-related symptoms by decreasing the amount of fatty tissue that surrounds the neck.
Stopping smoking and limiting alcohol consumption. Both can lower the risk of constricted airways over time.
Allergy medications: Nasal decongestants as well as other OTC allergy medicines can improve airflow and allow people to breathe through their noses while they sleep.
Altering the position of their sleep: People may try changing their sleeping position , and then resting on their backs to determine whether symptoms diminish. People with this condition are more likely to suffer symptoms while sleeping on their backs.
Mandibular advancement devices can be a effective tool to treat sleep apnea and snoring.
They are safe for use with minimal negative side effects, are simple to use, and are much more economical than CPAP.
But, MADs are not suitable for all. Sleep apnea sufferers with severe symptoms, also known as central sleep apnea, might not be able to find relief the use of these devices.
If you are concerned that they might have sleep apnea should speak with their physician or consult an expert in sleep. A sleep test can prove a suspicion of sleep apnea. A specialist will then offer treatments.
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