How do sleep apnea oral appliances work?

Video Overview

Hi, my name is Dr. Dane Kinghorn. I'm a general dentist practicing dentistry at Belgrade Dental Associates. We have been serving the Gallatin Valley for ten years now. How do sleep apnea oral appliances work? Patients that are suffering from obstructive sleep apnea when they lay down to sleep at night, actually suffer from the blockage in the airway. What happens is as they lay down the lower jaw can relax a little bit allowing the tongue and posterior throat tissues to fall back into the airway which can completely block the airway, cutting off the flow of oxygen. A mandibular repositioning device for oral appliance functions to reposition the mandible to a more anterior position throughout the night which will then bring the tongue and throat tissues forward to open that airway at night for the proper flow of oxygen.