The Moses™ Appliance
What can I do about Snoring?
If you feel snoring is a problem, discuss it with Dr. Oh. You may be suitable candidate for The Moses™ appliance (oral airway dilator), which is one of the most efficient and effective methods for treating primary snoring.
How does The Moses™ work?
The Moses™ is made and fitted by your dentist and works by moving your jaw and tongue forward, thereby creating more space for you to properly breathe during the night. This reduces or eliminates snoring. However, you must be aware that snoring can indicate a more serious problem called Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).
How does snoring indicate Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
Snoring is often an indicator of something more serious called OSA. Snoring and OSA are similar respiratory sleep disorders.
Snoring occurs when the air you breathe vibrates the tissues of the airway due to a blocked or narrowed airways (nose, mouth, or throat).
OSA occurs when your breathing regularly stops or is slowed for 10 seconds or longer due to blocked or narrowed airways (nose, mouth, or throat).
Airway blockage may be caused by excess tissue in the throat or nasal passages, large tonsils, a large tongue and sometimes the structure of the jaw itself.
Why is Obstructive Sleep Apnea a serious problem?
Your body is being robbed of the rest it needs to function properly during the day when you care constantly awoken throughout the night.
OSA symptoms include:
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Feeling exhausted after a normal night of sleep
- Headaches
- Depression
Symptoms that you bed partner is likely aware of:
- Frequent episodes of obstructed breathing during sleep
- Snoring, gasps, choking or gurgling sound
- Bruxism (tooth grinding)
Long term symptoms:
- Increased risk of hypertension and cardiovascular disease
- Sexual dysfunction
- Compromised immune system
- Irritablilty
- Learning and memory problems
- Poor mental and emotional health
OSA is classified as mild, moderate, or severe, depending on the number of stops (apnea) or slow breathing (hyponea) per hour.
Treatment Options:
In addition to lifestyle changes such as good sleep hygiene, excercise and weight loss, there are three primary ways to treat snoring and OSA:
- ) CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure), 2. )Surgery or 3. ) Oral Appliance Therapy.
The Moses™ Oral Appliance Therapy is indicated for:
- Patients with primary snoring or mild OSA who do not respond to behavioral measures such as weight loss or sleep position change.
- Patients with moderate to severe OSA who are intolerant of or refuse treatment with nasal CPAP.
- Oral appliances are also indicated for patients who refuse treatment or are not candiates for tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy, craniofacial operations or tracheotomy.