What Is a Mandibular Advancement Device?
I get asked quite often about a mandibular advancement device and if it can help with snoring or sleep apnea concerns.
Let’s face it. The compliance with a CPAP, which is the gold standard for treating obstructive sleep apnea, is very low…reportedly less than 60%. It is incredibly difficult to improve one’s health and wellness when the recommendations of the doctor are not followed.
A mandibular advancement device (AKA MAD device, oral sleep appliance, oral appliance or mandibular splint) is the most common type of dental sleep device available, but is it the right choice for you?
Mandibular Advancement Device: How Does It Work?
This appliance is designed to create more space in the airway by advancing the jaw forward, taking all the soft tissue with it. As the jaw is moved forward, the airway is held open by the advancement of the tongue and soft tissues.
When the size of the airway is increased, it decreases restrictions resulting in less snoring or apneic events.
Is a Mandibular Advancement Device For Me?
The best way to answer this question is to understand your sleep-disordered breathing concern. If you have a diagnosis of mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea, this appliance may be a good choice. If you have a diagnosis of severe sleep apnea, you may be required to use CPAP therapy for the best airway management.
Why Is It Important For Me To Seek Help For My Sleep Disordered Breathing?
Because the long term consequences of ignoring your sleep-disordered breathing can be deadly. Recently, I did several lectures on airway-related disorders. In this article, I shared the signs and symptoms of an airway-related disorder. The bottom line is this...mouth breathing is a sign of a bigger concern. Snoring is a sign of a bigger concern. Upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS) and obstructive sleep apnea have major health risks. Ignoring these concerns, or taking some other type of DIY approach, can leave you with chronic or serious health concerns.
Is There a Downside To Using a Mandibular Advancement Device?
There can be, but the important thing to consider is which appliance a person will use. The benefits outweigh the concerns. In my practice, the biggest complaint I receive about a mandibular advancement device is that it can change the bite. This can be a real challenge, so it is important that you have your mandibular advancement device professionally made by an experienced dentist who will monitor the appliance. I don’t recommend ordering something from the television or buying it at your local drugstore!
If I Have a Mandibular Advancement Device, Why Do I Still Need Myofunctional Therapy?
Myofunctional therapy is going to help improve oral strength and tone, in addition to teaching the correct tongue and mouth resting posture and nasal breathing. When you have a mandibular advancement device, that does not help you solve the problem at the root cause. As a myofunctional therapist, I help you find root cause resolution. A CPAP or mandibular advancement device does not solve the problem. Those appliances help decrease the symptoms associated with sleep-disordered breathing.
Myofunctional therapy is still needed to increase strength and muscle tone. Learning how to support the airway through correct tongue and mouth posture is important. In addition, correcting your myofunctional impairments will help you improve your overall wellness. I cannot stress enough that you cannot be at the top of your wellness game if you have myofunctional impairments. (I did a recent webinar called “Become a V.H.P: Your 6 Step Roadmap to Becoming a Vital Healthy Person By Understanding Your Myofunctional Impairment”. You can catch a replay here if you’re interested!)
I recommend talking with a myofunctional therapist and “arming yourself with knowledge”. This information will help you seek out the correct people to help you “up your wellness game”. A multidisciplinary approach will be important to help you manage your sleep-disordered breathing.
If You Have Concerns
By now, if you’ve been following me long enough…you know my path of passion here. You know this stuff is on my heart like a brick and I’m here to serve, educate, and empower YOU to take this time to focus on YOU.
I spend countless hours creating content to educate you. If any of my content makes you nod your head or resonates with you like a fire in your belly, YOU deserve to know more. You deserve to be more. You deserve to be your best self.
How does myofunctional impairment look like for you? Let’s unpack that.
Maybe it’s feeling like poop. Day in and day out. Maybe its exhaustion from poor sleep or a snoring partner. Maybe it’s poor self-image because you don’t like how your face looks. Maybe it’s poor parenting because you just don’t have the energy.
Now….ask yourself….what it might look like if you put YOU first, and made this your year, your month, your hour, your minute to make YOU a priority?
Does it look like you flying out of bed in the morning to voraciously face the day…because you’re rested?
Does it look like you “OWNING” the energy to move your blessed, amazing body because you have untapped energy?
Does it look like you finally being able to shed those last 10-20-30 pounds because your energy and self-love have gone sky-high?
Does it look like you finally feeling good? No digestive issues or medications to mask the problem.
Right now, is YOUR chance to take that first step to feel your best and live your best life. Don’t short change yourself or make excuses. Don’t put up barriers or start with the self-talking lies. Make yourself a pinkie promise to start exploring your myofunctional impairment today. Don’t let another year, month, hour, minute or second go by without you choosing to make YOU a priority.
It doesn’t cost you a dime to make a free 30-minute appointment with me to talk about you and what you should do. Start. Today.
By the way, If you are like me, and you like to do some “me-search” before talking to a human. I get it. For that reason, I like to share my assessment tool with anyone who is suspecting myofunctional impairment. You can get the assessment tool here and it asks you 25 of the most common questions that I dig deep into during a myofunctional exam. And, if you want to step it up a notch, I recently taught a free class “Become a V.H.P: Your 6 Step Roadmap to Becoming a Vital Healthy Person By Understanding Your Myofunctional Impairment” where I walk you through 6 areas that are uber important for you to consider….and I make it easy on you because I tell you what numbers I’m talking about from the assessment tool . You can watch the video replay here. I encourage you to download your assessment first, fill it out and then watch the video!
About Carmen
Carmen found her path of passion years ago as a dental hygienist. After a stint in graduate school to earn her M.B.A., she left clinical hygiene practice to start her business, Integrative Myofunctional Therapy. In addition to seeing clients in her private online practice, she also teaches the craft of myofunctional therapy in her Myo Mastery Program, coaches dental offices on how to implement myofunctional screening into the daily practice, and speaks frequently in various settings.
Carmen is a provider for the Foundation of Airway Health, where she works diligently for the recognition, diagnosis, and treatment of airway related disorders.
In addition, she is a proud member of several professional associations that afford her the opportunity to learn so that she can help her clients. Her professional memberships include:
Other Great Resources
I am LIVE on Facebook most Wednesdays at 11:30 am Mountain time. I cover a huge range of topics!
I have the Tongue-Tie and Myofunctional Therapy Support Group on Facebook, which you are encouraged to join.
I have an extensive blog.
I’m growing a great YouTube channel.
I am very active on Instagram!
Are you a Facebook Fan of Integrative Myofunctional Therapy?
Sign up to down load my free assessment tool and check “yes” to get my weekly email about all things myo!
I teach a free class called: “Become a V.H.P: Your 6 Step Roadmap to Becoming a Vital Healthy Person By Understanding Your Myofunctional Impairment”. You can watch one of the video replays here.
This article is a source of inspiration for me, it helps
me a lot in sleep problems. I also used this Rain Sounds https://youtu.be/uSxflHAxweE to fall asleep easily.
Thanks, keep it up!
Thank you Celena!