Our Sleep Apnea Solutions
If you or a loved one suffers from sleep apnea or snoring and you’re looking for a convenient, comfortable solution, Dr. Argyle has your answer. At Argyle Dental Sleep and TMJ, he features customizable oral appliances to treat these common sleep issues so his patients can get the rest they need.
In addition to oral appliance therapy, he offers a variety of solutions aimed at controlling the patient’s airway. Dr. Argyle’s approaches are effective and progressive and he’ll develop customized treatment plans for unmatched and long-lasting results.
If you’re ready to get your sleep apnea or snoring under control, learn more about oral appliances and our other treatment options below.
Oral Appliance Therapy
Many patients find relief using oral appliance therapy for treating snoring and sleep apnea. Our small, custom-crafted oral appliances are a comfortable alternative option to other treatment options, such as CPAP. Oral appliances work by gently shifting your jaw forward, keeping your airway open while you sleep.
Similar to a mouthguard, oral appliances are custom-fitted to your unique bite for maximum convenience and comfort. With oral appliance therapy at Argyle Dental Sleep and TMJ, you’ll receive unmatched results and reliability.
Oral Appliance Therapy Advantages
Oral appliance therapy is an effective, non-invasive treatment that fits easily into your lifestyle. Patients find oral appliance therapy to be the superior treatment option because it is:
- Comfortable
- Easy to wear
- Quiet
- Portable
- Travel-friendly
- Easy to care for
Why Choose Us
Dr. Argyle works closely with all of the local sleep physicians in treating snoring and sleep apnea. He’s a qualified Dentist with the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine which allows him to be one of the best in the entire state of Utah for oral appliance therapy for the treatment of snoring and sleep apnea. At your first visit, Dr. Argyle will talk to you about the benefits of treatment and go over any questions you may have. You’ll also receive information on its potential side effects and the cost of therapy.
From there, you’ll receive a complete clinical evaluation. This includes an examination of your teeth, jaw, tongue, and airway, and a panoramic radiograph of your mouth to allow us to evaluate your jaw structure, joints, and teeth. Oral appliances are customized using digital or physical impressions and molds of your teeth. These models are sent to a dental laboratory where the appliance is made.
At the end of this appointment, you’ll be sent home with an overnight oximetry test so that we can get a baseline to compare with once we start treatment to verify that the treatment is beneficial to you and to get the oral appliance working to its maximum effectiveness so that you can receive the best results.
Once your oral appliance is ready, you’ll return to our office for a fitting. We’ll adjust the appliance to maximize its comfort and effectiveness. You’ll also learn how to clean and maintain your oral appliance.
Follow-up visits will be needed to ensure the optimal fit of your oral appliance. Effective oral appliances are always custom-fit and adjusted over time to ensure maximum effectiveness. Once we have you feeling great and have adjusted the oral appliance to what we feel is maximum effectiveness, we’ll perform another overnight oximetry test to verify these results.
Dr. Argyle will work closely with your sleep physician, updating them throughout the process. Often, your sleep physician will want to get you in for a follow-up appointment once we have you feeling your best. We’ll also schedule you for an annual assessment. These routine visits are an important part of your long-term treatment success.
Treating snoring or obstructive sleep apnea with oral appliance therapy can make you feel like a new person. You’ll find that your symptoms and your quality of life will improve drastically when you remain committed to your treatment and use it nightly. It’s likely that you’ll sleep better, have more energy, and feel sharper throughout the day. You’ll likely find that your bed partner starts to sleeps better too!
Treating sleep apnea promotes a healthier heart, body, and mind. With Dr. Argyle’s help, you can improve your sleep, your health, and bring about all new kinds of possibilities in your life with your renewed self.
Myofunctional Therapy
Dr. Argyle uses myofunctional therapy to treat several complications associated with the facial muscles. Some of which include problems with chewing, swallowing, speech, occlusion, TMJ movement, oral hygiene, and more. This program is used to strengthen the relationship between the muscles of the face, tongue, and throat through highly effective physical therapy exercises.
The exercises prescribed are typically different for each patient, as they’re custom-tailored to their individual needs. When done correctly, myofunctional therapy can be an effective way to reduce the symptoms of sleep-disordered breathing.
Myofunctional therapy is the most natural treatment offered for sleep apnea. Below is a list of mouth and throat exercises that are beneficial in naturally treating your condition. Combined with oral appliance therapy, these exercises can strengthen a patient’s muscles, aiding in a better night’s sleep.
Tiger Yell
Similar to tiger roaring, open your mouth as wide as possible and stick your tongue out as far as you can. Try to reach your chin, holding this position for five minutes. This will strengthen your muscles in the back of your throat.
Touch Nose and Chin
First, stick your tongue out and try to touch your nose. This will strengthen your jaw even if you can’t reach your nose. Next, try touching your chin with your tongue. Hold this position for at least 10 seconds.
Tongue Slide
To help minimize snoring, position the top of your tongue behind your front teeth. Slide your tongue back toward your throat, curling it. This technique helps strengthen the muscles in your throat and neck.
Soft Palate Stretches
Begin this exercise by closing your mouth and breathing through your nose. Keeping your mouth closed, exhale and push the air through your lips. This will cause your throat to push back and you’ll feel resistance.
Jaw Tension Relief
To relieve jaw tension, touch the tip of your tongue to the roof of your mouth. Keeping your mouth closed, slide your tongue back as far as you can. Relax your tongue and slowly open your mouth while keeping your tongue on the roof. Hold for five seconds.
Surgery
There are multiple different forms of surgery that can be performed to assist in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea. Learn more below about some of the most commonly used surgeries in sleep apnea treatment.
Maxillomandibular osteotomy (MMO) and advancement (MMA)
This surgery is a treatment option for patients with severe sleep apnea. Your surgeon will surgically fracture the upper and lower jaws and position them forward to enlarge the space for breathing in the entire throat. This procedure involves cutting the bone of your jaws, which then heal over the course of months. Your jaw may be wired shut for a few days and your diet will be limited for several weeks after the procedure. The typical cost for this procedure ranges from $20,000 to $40,000.
Radiofrequency Volumetric Tissue Reduction (RVTR)
Radiofrequency ablation is a treatment option for patients with mild to moderate sleep apnea. It uses controlled cauterization to shrink and tighten the tissues in and around the throat. It can be applied to the soft palate, tonsils, and tongue. The tissues will generally replace, requiring frequently repeated treatments. This treatment typically costs $3,500 to $4,500.
Septoplasty and Turbinate Reduction
These surgical options open your nasal passages to improve airflow. Septoplasty straightens a bent or deviated nasal septum. This is the divider that separates the two sides of the nose. Turbinate reduction reduces or removes the curved structures that stick out from the side of the nose. They can be enlarged for a number of reasons, including allergies. Certain medications can also help reduce the size of turbinates. The typical cost is $3,500 to $5,500.
Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy
A tonsillectomy is a surgical procedure performed to remove the tonsils. Tonsils are small, round glands in the back of your mouth, on the sides of your throat. Often, adenoids are removed at the same time as tonsils. This procedure is known as adenoidectomy. Adenoids are similar to the tonsils but are located above the soft roof of the mouth. Both the tonsils and adenoids can become enlarged due to recurrent infections as well as mouth-breathing. Typical cost is $3,500 to $4,500.
Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation
Hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HGNS) is a relatively new treatment. It’s also known as upper airway stimulation or a “pacemaker for the tongue.” The treatment works by stimulating the hypoglossal nerve to restore the tone to (or stiffen) the key tongue muscles, that when relaxed, can block the airway causing an obstruction that reduces or stops breathing during sleep.
The stimulating device (and battery) and breathing sensor are implanted in the chest and connected to a stimulation lead that touches the hypoglossal nerve. It’s turned on when you go to sleep and off when you wake up by a hand-held remote. Typical costs is $40,000 to $60,000.
Positive Airway Pressure (PAP)
Treatment With a PAP Machine
A core component of treatment for obstructive sleep apnea is the use of a positive airway pressure (PAP) device. PAP machines work by pumping pressurized air through a hose and into the airway. The stable, steady flow of air prevents airway collapse and promotes regular breathing without sleep fragmentation.
Treatment with a positive airway pressure (PAP) device is considered to be the current gold standard in sleep apnea treatment and is offered as an initial treatment to the majority of patients. The most common way of receiving PAP therapy is with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices, which deliver air with a consistent pressure level.
A prescription is required to obtain and use PAP therapy, and its pressure settings come pre-set with measurements taken by your healthcare team. Setting up your device properly helps you get used to sleeping with a CPAP so that you can get the most benefits from it. To take in the pressurized air and keep the airway open, it’s necessary to wear a mask attached to the device every time you sleep.
A full-face mask covers both the nose and mouth while other masks cover or go underneath the nose. The choice of mask depends on various factors including whether you breathe through your mouth, your sleeping position, and if you suffer from nasal congestion.