An estimated 18 million Americans suffer from Obstructive Sleep Apnea. The condition is caused when the tongue or other soft tissue in the mouth moves while you are sleeping and blocks your airway. Sleep apnea actually causes you to stop breathing, which could lead to severe health problems and early death. It is also linked to teeth grinding (bruxism), headaches and daytime sleepiness.

Traditional Sleep Apnea treatment is the use of a CPAP machine. While these machines work well, many patients are unable or unwilling to continue using them due to noise and discomfort of being hooked up to an air mask while sleeping. They also make traveling difficult. Our office is now offering an alternative treatment that has been recommended by sleep apnea experts for mild cases or for those who have found CPAP machines too much of a problem. A Mandibular Advancement Device (MAD) is a special type of mouth guard for treating sleep apnea. The mouth guard fits over the upper and lower teeth to keep the lower jaw forward. This keeps the airway open while you sleep.

Mouth guards require an appointment to take a mold of your teeth. This ensures that the mouth guard will be custom made to fit properly in your mouth, making it more comfortable to wear and more effective.