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Dental Appliance Can Help Sleep Apnea

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Aug 8, 2006 9:49 pm US/Eastern

Dental Appliance Can Help Sleep Apnea

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ― Sleep apnea can be a serious sleep disorder.

People who have it actually stop breathing for 10 to 30 seconds at a time while they sleep, several times during the night.

A majority of sleep apnea patients use an air-blowing mask to help them breathe while they sleep.

But now, a special dental appliance may do the trick.

Diane Greenwald thought a poster in a doctor's office was made for her.

A sleep study confirmed sleep apnea, a disorder that causes patients to stop breathing at night. To treat it, Diane used a C-PAP system, short for continuous positive airway pressure.

"I certainly did feel better using it, but it was very cumbersome," Greenwald said.

After three years, Diane wanted an alternative, and went to see Dr. Kenneth Hilson.

"One of the techniques for treating the most common sleep disorder, which is sleep apnea, is the use of an oral appliance," said prosthodontist Dr. Kenneth Hilson.

Though it looks like a sports mouth guard, the top and bottom are joined together. This holds the bottom jaw forward, preventing the tongue from relaxing into the airway during sleep.

The process to make the appliance is similar to other orthodontic work.

Since it's less bulky, patients are more apt to use it.

As for Diane, she's not losing a wink.

"Now I get up, and after I stretch a little bit, I can move around and I feel invigorated from the sleep," Greenwald said.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine published guidelines on the use of oral appliances for sleep apnea.

The sleep specialists say that the devices are appropriate for mild to moderate sleep obstructive sleep apnea patients.

They can even be used in patients with more serious cases if they aren't using their C-PAP machine.

(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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