Treatment Options
The most commonly known treatment for sleep apnea is CPAP machines, which have been in use since the 1970s and 1980s. This treatment, however, is for patients who suffer from severe sleep apnea, is not suitable for every case and can be difficult to use.
At our dental office, we provide easy, modern alternatives for patients with slight to moderate sleep apnea, using two treatment options:
Oral Appliance Therapy
Oral appliance therapy (OAT) and mandibular advancement devices (MAD): the modern way to treatment sleep apnea.
Once you have the results of your home sleep test, the sleep physician will let you know your diagnosis and treatment options. For severe sleep apnea (AHI >30), CPAP is the gold standard of treatment and is really your only and best option. If you fall into the slight to moderate range, oral appliance therapy is usually your best option. Oral appliance therapy and mandibular advancement devices are different ways of saying the same thing. They are easy and comfortable to use. Over 90% of our patients adapt quickly to OAT, whereas only about 30% of CPAP users are successful with treatment.
These are pictures of a couple of our favorite oral appliances.
Dr. Jeppson has used and delivered OAT’s for over 15 years, and together, he will help you choose the appliance that is best for you.
Steps to treatment:
- Screening (Screening forms, home sleep test, cone beam X-ray of your airway and in-depth oral exam)
- Treatment Planning (Review sleep physician’s recommendations, your treatment options and financial arrangements)
- Fabrication and Delivery (Digital scans and bite registration, about 3 weeks in lab and delivery)
- Long Term Follow Up (Titration HST at 1 month and 1 year, maintenance as needed)
The VIVOS System
Dr. Jeppson is also trained in VIVOS treatment. The VIVOS System is especially useful, as it is specifically tailored to help guide jaw growth to promote proper beathing, and thus work to cure your sleep apnea, not just treat it like a CPAP or standard oral appliance.
VIVOS is not for everyone, but if you are screened and are a good candidate due to your structures/conditions, it can eliminate your OSA.
At your sleep consult, we will assess if you as a candidate for VIVOS treatment as well, and include Vivos as an option in your treatment plan if Dr. Jeppson feels that it would work for you.
If you have any additional questions about sleep apnea treatment in Provo, Utah, we invite you to call Jeppson Dental at 801-356-7701 to learn more and schedule a sleep consultation with our dentist.