Sleep Apnea Treatment – Savannah, GA

Should You Consider the SomnoDent® MAS Oral Appliance?

Choosing an oral appliance to treat your chronic snoring and/or sleep apnea can make a big difference not just for your overall health and quality of sleep, but also for your partner sharing the bed with you. Eliminating most if not all of your symptoms means that your partner doesn’t have to move to another room just to get the sleep they need. Furthermore, you can avoid other common symptoms associated with OSA, including headaches, daytime fatigue, and reduced concentration.

All of these reasons can make a SomnoDent® MAS oral appliance worth considering. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you’re interested in learning more about this treatment option.

When is an Oral Appliance Worn?

To manage your snoring, simply wear the SomnoDent® MAS oral appliance when you sleep. Since the device is incredibly discreet, you can easily close your lips, so it’s not obvious to those around you that you’re wearing it!

Is an Oral Appliance Comfortable?

The SomnoDent® MAS oral appliance is incredibly comfortable to use because it is custom-made to fit your mouth exactly. There’s no need to worry about it interfering with your tongue or other nearby oral structures. Opening and closing your mouth feels normal since the appliance does not lock or fix your jaw, as is common for other MAS appliances.

What Will the Dentist Do for Sleep Apnea Treatment?

Our team will perform a thorough examination of your teeth and mouth. This may include X-rays to confirm the status of your oral health and confirm your eligibility for the appliance. To create the device, we’ll need to collect impressions of your bite. Once gathered, we’ll send the impressions to an off-site laboratory to have the appliance fabricated. After a week or so, you’ll come back to the dental office to have the appliance fitted. We’ll go over how to insert and remove it on your own, as well as the best practices for cleaning and maintenance.

Can I Get an Oral Appliance if I Have a Bridge or Dentures?

If you have crowns or bridges, you can still receive a SomnoDent® MAS appliance. We’ll make adjustments to the appliance as needed to make sure your restorations are not harmed in any way. Of course, the SomnoDent® MAS Flex, which comes with a soft interior lining, may be more appropriate and gentler on your teeth.

In order to receive an oral appliance, you need to have a certain number of healthy teeth. For example, most oral appliances require a set of 10 healthy teeth in both the upper and lower jaws. Thankfully, the SomnoDent® MAS appliances are more accommodating and require fewer teeth to fulfill their purpose. If you have a partial denture, you may also be able to successfully receive oral appliance treatment as long as you have enough teeth in the lower arch. This allows for the best retention possible.

If you have dental implants or plan to receive dental implants, the MAS can also be fitted with your restorations. Our dental office recommends the SomnoDent® MAS Edentulous appliance if you have no upper teeth, and that it be made from acrylic or flex material. If you’ve ever used an upper denture, you’ll notice that this appliance covers the palate in a very similar way, is secured via suction, and is designed to oppose the lower splint. This two-piece coupling mechanism results in no downward pull on the upper splint.

Thanks to these accommodations, edentulous patients can benefit from a SomnoDent® MAS. However, all patients considering this oral appliance must have at least six teeth in the lower jaw for optimal function.

Can an Oral Appliance Be Adjusted?

The SomnoDent® MAS is equipped with medical-grade stainless steel screws on its side, allowing for incremental levels of jaw advancement, so yes. This allows patients to move their jaws only as far as required when alleviating snoring and OSA while still ensuring effectiveness and the most comfortable fit possible.