Snoring Treatment with a Mandibular Advancement Device (MAD)
Dr. John Bronner offers a snoring treatment at his Pietermaritzburg and Durban practice. Get a custom-designed oral appliance engineered to treat snoring or mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea.
A revolutionary, non-surgical snoring treatment reducing or eliminating snoring and sleep apneas.
How does the MAD work?
A MAD helps reduce the symptoms and effects of sleep apnea by moving the jaw into a forward position while you sleep. This moves the tongue forward, preventing the upper airway from collapsing. Pushing the lower jaw forward helps expand the airway, reducing the number of breathing pauses during sleep. Below are renders and cross-section scans of the airway before and after treatment.
Untreated Position
Treatment Position
What are the benefits of the MAD treatment?
- Non-invasive – It requires no surgery or invasive procedure.
- Digitally designed – The digital design of the MAD eliminates the need for unpleasant impressions and ensures a high level of accuracy and testing before production.
- Non-limiting movement – The MAD allows patients open and close their mouth naturally.
- Effective – They’re effective in reducing symptoms associated with snoring and sleep apnea.
- Very portable – Unlike the machine, tubes, and mask associated with CPAP, oral appliances for sleep apnea are small enough to fit into your pocket.
- Easy to clean – There’s no tubing to worry about cleaning.
- Quiet – Some CPAP machines can be noisy, but this isn’t an issue with oral appliances.
- Comfortable – Most patients find oral appliances to be quite comfortable and easy to wear.
- Less noticeable – Your bed partner won’t be able to see your appliance unless you have your mouth open.
EOS Dental Sleep. (2017, October 30th). Benefits of a Dental Appliance for Sleep Apnea. Retrieved from http://bit.ly/2TkEngS
Book a consultation
When you book a consultation with us we will walk you through the process of the treatment,
and work with you to determine a treatment plan that best suits your goals.
What is a MAD?
A Mandibular Advancement Device (MAD) is a custom-designed oral appliance prescribed by your dentist to treat snoring or mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea. It is also recommended for patients with more severe OSA who are unable or unwilling to tolerate CPAP therapy and/or surgery. The two-piece appliance is designed to prevent apneas by keeping the upper airway open. The lower jaw is moved forward comfortably to relax the tissue at the back of the throat and prevent the base of the tongue from collapsing and blocking the airway.
Is it a surgical procedure?
No. The MAD is created through digital design and eliminates the need for surgical intervention, unpleasant impressions and ensures a high level of accuracy. In fact, we can digitally test the efficacy of the MAD before we manufacture it.
Will it work on me?
The MAD is a highly effective product. 90% of patients reported a reduction of snoring and apneas when wearing an oral appliance, 84% of patients reported an improvement in the quality of night sleep when wearing an oral appliance and 76% of patients reported a reduction in daytime tiredness when wearing an oral appliance.
Are there any possible side effects of using an oral appliance?
Especially compared to the serious risks of having no treatment, dental sleep treatment risks are relatively rare and minor for the patients who are candidates to receive treatment.
The primary side effects noted below typically subside within 7-14 days.
- Tooth, muscular, or jaw joint discomfort
- Excessive salivation
- Nausea
- Tooth movement or bite changes
- Dry/chapped lips
Devices should be immediately removed if more serious issues arise such as:
- Respiratory problems and blockages of the respiratory path.
- Infections
- Loose teeth
- Allergic reactions such as rash or irritation