Sleep Apnea and Dental Appliance

My husband did this through the dental college at OU Health Science Center here in OKC. They made a mold of his mouth with that dental goo, it goes everywhere too....

The appliance was so painful for hubby. It basically pulls the lower jaw forward to place the tongue in a position where he can't snore. The jaw joint becomes painful and inflamed over time. Hubby got to where he wouldn't even speak because just moving to say something nearly made him cry. Try sitting with your mouth like that for a while, your lower jaw poking out and the top one normal. It gets tired of it.

The best day was when he got his C-PAP. The first one didn't work out so well, that doc didn't listen well and turned it up so much that hubby's stomach was bloated out from all the air blowing in.

The next doc listened and helped hubby pick the right face gear and he sleeps with it every night and is doing so much better.

I would call and ask the dentist. I have one for grinding which actually positions your teeth totally the opposite from the one you'd use for snoring - so I would ask IF he could even use both???? The dentist may be a worthy call to make. Good luck.

One of the dentists I have seen for my grinding explained that as you grind and wear down your teeth, your jaw/throat/ mouth/ airway sort of has less room and maybe closes up a little?

so by using an appliance to hold your mouth back in the position it was originally it will open up the airways. and since you are doing that you can also deal with the grinding.

so to me they are similar but i'm not an expert and my dd is chattering in my ear during my 5 mins of mommy time. so I[m not even sure I made sense.

My husband has had one for a few months; it helps a bit but doesn't totally solve the problem. We had a lot of trouble with our insurance company over paying for the device-- apparently their view is that you must try CPAP first. (We were not informed of that possibility by the dentist who made the device.)

Going they this right now.
My husband was recently diagnosed with severe sleep apnea.
Dental appliances are often used for mild to moderate sleep apnea.
I understand the CPAP/BiPAP machines can be tough to get used to.
The appliances much easier...if I were your husband, I'd give it a try.
And combine it with a contoured pillow.
Good luck!