Differences between Snore Guards and Oral Appliances Explained

If you are affected by obstructive sleep apnea, a sleep-related disorder, and snore continuously when sleeping, you cannot assume you can find relief from snore guards in Sunset Hills, MO, because these devices aren’t beneficial for treating sleep apnea. You may think snore guards resemble oral appliances that dentists provide and are suitable for managing sleep apnea. Unfortunately, oral appliances from dentists are entirely different and are created explicitly to deal with sleep apnea, capable of assuming life-threatening proportions if left untreated.

Medical professionals usually offer CPAP therapy for people affected by sleep apnea after diagnosing them. Unfortunately, not everyone tolerates the CPAP device requiring you to wear a mask over your nose when sleeping and treat sleep apnea with oral appliances. The lack of adequate knowledge perhaps prompts people to consider using snore guards appearing similar to oral appliances. This article explains the difference between the two devices to make you understand which instrument is best for treating sleep apnea.

Why Are Oral Appliances Better Than Snore Guards?

The primary difference between snore guards and oral appliances is in their use. It is an error to assume snore guards can treat sleep apnea because the assumption is false. Unlike oral appliances, snore guards are not medical devices and are available over-the-counter without a prescription. However, oral appliances created by dentists working with sleep medicine specialists are medical devices available under a prescription. In addition, oral appliances are authenticated to treat obstructive and will likely deliver effective results, unlike snore guards.

If you decide to self-treat sleep apnea without advice from the dentist near you instead of treating the condition, you may develop new side effects from ill-fitting and inappropriate devices. For example, you may develop oral blisters, irritation, TMJ disorders, neck pain, headaches, and loss of teeth. On the other hand, if you prefer oral appliances, you manage to control sleep apnea without the adverse side effects of snore guards. Therefore you help yourself by choosing a suitable device after advice from the dentist nearby.

Differences between Oral Appliances and Snore Guards

Snore guards available over-the-counter are created to protect the teeth soft tissues of the mouth from impacts or injuries and are commonly used by sports persons to safeguard their teeth. Unfortunately, snore guards don’t fit correctly because they are not customized for anyone’s mouths. The most commonly available stock snore guards or mouth guards are small, medium, or large sizes. While they offer protection to the teeth, they also make breathing difficult and are uncomfortable to wear in the mouth even when involved in sporting activities. In addition, they tend to slip and fall out and are not appropriate for treating health issues like obstructive sleep apnea.

Oral appliances explicitly created for dealing with sleep apnea are approved by the FDA as medical devices for safety and intended use. If you discuss using an oral appliance to treat sleep apnea with your sleep medicine specialist, you can rest assured you will receive a prescription for an FDA-approved device. They recommend that you avoid over-the-counter oral appliances that haven’t received FDA approval.

How Are Both Devices Fabricated?

Sturdy and hygienic materials safe for use in the oral cavity help fabricate oral appliances for sleep apnea. The devices can take plenty of wear and tear among snorers with or without obstructive sleep apnea. The apparatus advances the lower jaw in a forward position creating more space for the upper airway for airflow passage when sleeping.

Snore guards are easier to fabricate because they have fewer moving parts. You can also obtain prefabricated snore guards utterly non-customizable. It is why snore guards aren’t approved as a remedy for treating sleep apnea because they are challenging to adjust, which is an essential requirement for the treatment of sleep apnea. Snore guards have a lifespan of around six to 24 months and are relatively inexpensive than oral appliances.

On the other hand, the dentist in Sunset Hills, MO, fabricates an oral appliance to advance the jawbone with help from a fortified hinge mechanism for support. The hinge mechanism helps adjust the level of advancement, ensuring the best fit and efficient treatment for your specific situation.

The adjustability of an oral appliance allows you to test its effectiveness in a sleep center laboratory to ensure the therapy is indeed effective. Oral appliances, although expensive, are fabricated to last and will remain with you for five to ten years. Therefore when selecting a treatment for sleep apnea to help yourself by making an appropriate choice after receiving advice from a professional working with sleep medicine specialists.

If you are determined to use an oral device to treat sleep apnea, you must schedule an appointment with My STL Dentist to get evaluated and receive an oral appliance approved by the FDA to deal with your problem.