Snoring & Sleep Apnoea

Snoring and Sleep Apnoea Oral Appliances

Patients with sleep apnoea are usually advised to use a continuous positive airway pressure (C-PAP) device. The whole kit includes a mask, tubes and a fan. The objective is to use air pressure to push your tongue forward and keep the throat unobstructed so that air can freely pass through. In cases, however, when the patient does not respond well to a C-PAP, or is generally inconvenienced by the hose, mask and compressor, snoring and sleep apnoea oral appliances may be used instead.

Snoring and sleep apnoea oral appliances are molded devices to hold the tongue and the lower jaw forward and keep the airway open during sleep. By bringing the jaw forward, these devices elevate the soft palate or keep the tongue in place so it doesn’t block the airway. Patients who use an oral appliance are advised to have regular visits with their Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon who can check if the device is functioning properly and monitor improvements in the patients’ condition.