Oral Devices

An oral device is a small appliance worn in the mouth similar to an orthodontic retainer or sports mouthguard. Oral device therapy involves the use of a specially designed appliance that, when worn during sleep, maintains an opened, unobstructed airway in the throat. These appliances promote adequate air intake and help to provide normal sleep in people who snore and have the medical condition known as Obstructive Sleep Apnoea. There are two basic types of oral appliances.

Tongue Retaining Devices
Tongue retainers function by directly holding the tongue in a forward position by means of a suction bulb. When the tongue is in a forward position, the back of the tongue does not collapse during sleep and obstruct the airway in the throat.

Mandibular Advancement Splints
Mandibular repositioning appliances work by repositioning and maintaining the lower jaw (mandible) in a protruded (forward) position during sleep. This opens the upper airway by tightening the tissues at the back of the throat. Since the tongue is attached to the lower jaw, repositioning the lower jaw in a more forward position also holds the tongue in a more forward position away from the throat thus eliminating snoring sounds.

Advantages of Mandibular Advancement Splints
MAS treatment is not painful and invasive like surgery. In addition it is completely reversible. If complications arise, then the patient simply stops wearing the device. They are comfortable and easy to wear. Most people find that it only takes a couple of weeks to become acclimatized to wearing the appliances. Finally, mandibular advancement splints are small and convenient making them easy to carry when traveling.

The SomnoMed MAS™
The SomnoMed MAS™ design incorporates a number of key features which represent advances on existing MAS oral appliances, including:

The SomnoMed MAS™ is an oral appliance in the class of Mandibular Advancement Splints ("MAS") that treats both snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnoea by advancing the lower jaw forward. It is a custom made device consisting of upper and lower dental plates with a unique patented fin- coupling mechanism. If required, a component can be added to make the device adjustable, thereby providing incremental jaw advancement to the necessary degree depending on the distance required to alleviate snoring and reduce OSA.

The SomnoMed MAS™ design incorporates a number of key features which represent advances on existing MAS oral appliances, including:

• Permits full range of mouth opening and closing
• Minimises disruption to normal oral functions like speech, drinking and yawning
• Provides contact at both the anterior(front) and posterior(rear), meaning a more stable occlusion (bite)
• Minimises impingement on the oral airway and the tongue space; and enables the wearer to open the mouth, yet have the jaw remain forward at all times.

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Cosmetic Dentist in Castle Hill, Sydney (NSW) : Dental Excellence is located in Castle Hill, Sydney (NSW ) and provides Cosmetic, Reconstructive and Implant Dentistry.