Oral appliance therapy (OAT) is an option in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) or upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS).

OAT involves wearing a removal oral appliance in your mouth while you sleep. A dentist custom fits you with the device that prevents airway collapse by either holding the tongue or supporting the jaw in the forward position.

OAT is easy to use, small, and easy to transport.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) clinical practice guideline recommends sleep physicians consider OAT for patient intolerant of PAP therapy or who prefer an alternate therapy. After titration of the device, follow-up testing should be performed to confirm treatment efficacy.

In a recent review, it was found that approximately one-third of patients under OAT therapy showed a complete resolution of the OSA disease, another third of patients showing a decrease in OSA severity of 50% or more, and the last one-third of patients only showed a negligible improvement.

While this is best answered by a medical professional via consultation, many patients with OSA or UARS are candidates for OAT.

Talk with your sleep doctor and a dentist who specializes in sleep to see if you are a candidate for OAT treatment.