What is OSA 
                     What is OSA?
        The most common form of sleep apnea is 
obstructive, which occurs when your throat muscles 
intermittently relax during sleep and partially block 
your airway. As a result, you repeatedly stop 
breathing for short periods throughout the night.
These pauses in breathing may be brief or last up to a minute or 
more before restarting without awakening you from sleep. In 
severe cases, oxygen levels at the back of your throat may drop 
lower than normal while you're sleeping because of partial 
blockage of airflow -- eventually leading to snoring or gasping 
during an episode -- and this can cause dangerous disruptions in 
heart rate and blood pressure.
        When this happens over time, 
patients may experience serious health 
problems such as high blood pressure, 
diabetes and even depression.  
        Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a condition 
characterized by frequent pauses or disruptions in breathing 
during sleep. Oral appliances, such as mandibular advancement 
devices, can be effective treatment options for people with 
moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea. Here we discuss 
the symptoms of OSA and how they affect your quality of life 
along with the benefits and risks associated with using an oral 
appliance for treatment. What Is OSA?
        Millions of Americans suffer from this 
debilitating and sometimes deadly disorder that 
strikes in the night without warning. At its most 
extreme, it can lead to heart failure — even death — 
but at its mildest it could mean chronic fatigue 
diminished concentration and irritability during the 
day.
        The most common form of sleep apnea is obstructive, which occurs 
when your throat muscles intermittently relax during sleep and partially block 
your airway. As a result, you repeatedly stop breathing for short periods 
throughout the night. These pauses in breathing may be brief or last up to a 
minute or more before restarting without awakening you from sleep. In severe 
cases, oxygen levels at the back of your throat may drop lower than normal 
while you're sleeping because of partial blockage of airflow — eventually 
leading to snoring or gasping during an episode — and this can cause 
dangerous disruptions in heart rate and blood pressure.
            When this happens over time, 
patients may experience serious health 
problems such as high blood pressure, 
diabetes and even depression.
            For those people who suffer from obstructive 
sleep apnea (OSA), the resulting disruptions in 
breathing during sleep can cause problems such as high 
blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease or possibly even 
death. What Is a Mandibular Advancement Device?
           An oral appliance is a small device that you wear inside 
your mouth at night to hold your jaw slightly forward so that 
your tongue doesn't block the back of your throat and restrict air 
flow. Oral appliances for treating OSA have been shown to 
reduce snoring and improve symptoms associated with sleep 
apnea such as daytime sleepiness. In addition, they may help 
prevent these serious health problems brought on by OSA: High 
blood pressure Heart attack Stroke Heart failure
           Doctors prescribe oral appliances for OSA more than any 
other treatment. Oral appliances are made by dentists who have 
specialized training in the area of dental sleep medicine, and they 
come in different shapes and sizes. They can be custom-fit to your 
mouth or ready-made, but whichever you choose it's important to 
make sure that the appliance fits properly so that it will work as 
intended. How Is an Oral Appliance Made?
        Many oral appliances for treating OSA are designed 
like a sports guard, with downward-facing prongs on either 
side of your lower jaw just below your front teeth. These 
devices are typically held in place at night by being secured 
behind the upper teeth using clasps or bands, which you 
can tighten in order to keep the lower jaw forward.
        Other types of oral appliances are designed with a 
continuous downward curve that runs from one side of your upper 
teeth to the other side of the lower teeth. These devices straighten 
your lower jaw and align it with your upper jaw to maintain an open 
airway while you sleep. There are also some rather simple devices 
known as tongue stabilizing devices (TSDs), which create space for 
airflow by gently holding the tip of your tongue in place.
           Mandibular advancement devices hold your 
lower jaw slightly forward during sleep so that your 
throat remains unobstructed and breathing 
continues normally throughout the night without 
interruption or disturbance. Oral Appliances vs CPAP
        The main difference between the two treatments is that 
CPAP involves wearing a mask over your nose and mouth, while 
an oral appliance fits in your mouth. Oral appliances are more 
comfortable to wear than masks, because they are not attached 
to a fan or pressurized air supply. They also tend to be lighter, 
smaller and easier to take with you when you travel.