Kessler Dental Associates offers cutting-edge sleep apnea treatments
Healthy teeth, healthy gums and now … healthy sleep? For those who have never consulted a dentist about treatments for sleep apnea and snoring, it may be time to make an appointment. Dental sleep medicine is a growing segment of dentistry that focuses on managing snoring and sleep apnea with oral appliance therapy (OAT) — an effective alternative to the standard continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine and mask.
“Dental sleep medicine focuses on managing sleep-disordered breathing like snoring and obstructive sleep apnea using oral appliance therapy — a very effective treatment option,” said Dr. Lon Kessler, founder of Phoenixville’s Kessler Dental Associates and Phoenixville’s Dental Sleep Medicine Center, llc, 2017 winners of the Readers Choice Award for Best Sleep Apnea Care.
Oral appliance therapy (OAT) uses a mouth guardlike device worn only during sleep to maintain an open, unobstructed airway. OAT devices prevent the airway from collapsing by supporting the jaw in a forward position. For many, oral appliance devices are more comfortable to wear than a CPAP mask. The devices are also quiet, portable and easy to care for. Research suggests that oral appliance therapy offers a higher patient compliance rate than CPAP. There are more than 80 different styles of oral appliance devices that have received FDA clearance.
“Dentists trained in dental sleep medicine work in conjunction with a sleep physician and recommend a specific oral appliance device based on a patient’s personal needs,” said Dr. Kessler. “The important thing for patients to remember is that effective oral devices are always custom fit by a dentist and may need adjustments over time to ensure maximum effectiveness.”
Oral appliance therapy is recommended for people with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea. Dr. Kessler and his team work in conjunction with area board-certified sleep physicians in diagnosing primary snoring or obstructive sleep apnea and treats patients based on those results.