Oral appliances in the management of pediatric obstructive sleep apnea

Oral appliances offer an alternative and oftentimes a more practical option for the patient of today, given his/her lifestyle, mobility, and convenience. The ultimate goal is for the patient to derive the necessary treatment for sleep apnea and to do so on an ongoing basis and in many cases for a lifetime. Oral appliances provided by a dentist with expertise in this area offer patients a treatment alternative that will be effective and at the same time result in improved compliance and long term satisfaction. Oral appliances are here to stay and only become widely accepted as they become better designed with improved refinements for comfort and durability. To conclude, the patient should be motivated to manage his/her sleep apnea on an ongoing, regular basis in an effort to avoid the onset of health risks related to sleep apnea. Oral appliances offer the patient this option along with convenience and in many cases an improved quality of life.