Oral Appliances for Snoring and/or Sleep Apnea

Dr.Schwartz offers the fabrication of an oral appliance that will help those who suffer from Snoring and/or Sleep Apnea to yield a better and more restful night’s sleep.  The term “snoring” is certainly something we are mostly all familiar with.  Sleep apnea, however, may not be.  It is a common disorder in which one has pauses in breathing or shallow breaths while sleeping, and is a chronic condition disrupting sleep patterns. The most common type is obstructive sleep apnea whereby the airway collapses or becomes blocked during sleep which can ultimately be life threatening in severe cases.  People suffering from this condition may also snore as well, and/or gasp for breathe while sleeping.  Ultimately sleep apnea patients suffer from poor sleep patterns and maybe excessively tired and sleepy during the daytime.

Sleep Apnea is professionally diagnosed when a patient undergoes a sleep study usually at a sleep center whereby they are monitored and observed during a night’s sleep. The level of severity for sleep apnea is diagnosed and treatment advised. There are patients that utilize what is called a CPAP machine which delivers oxygen via a mask worn while sleeping.  CPAP stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, and maintains the airway while sleeping.  However, there are those patient’s that either cannot accommodate to a CPAP machine, don’t want to be tethered  to an airline and mask, or are not severe enough, and are looking for a different alternative to negate their snoring or keep their airway open while sleeping or both.

An oral appliance is something that Dr. Schwartz fabricates to bring one’s lower jaw forward while sleeping which in turn opens up the airway to negate snoring as well as the symptoms of sleep apnea.  It is less restrictive in nature, and is usually well tolerated after an accommodation period.

Medical Insurance may cover a part of this oral appliance cost for sleep apnea, but only if a sleep study is first done where a medical diagnosis is made to demonstrate the medical need for this appliance.