Herbst Advance Appliance Eugene
Experience Better Breathing with a Herbst Advance Appliance
If you are one of the millions of adults struggling with obstructive sleep apnea, Dr. Paskalev and our Eugene, OR, team want to help. We offer oral appliance therapy, which uses custom devices to gently reposition the oral structures and facilitate improved airflow during sleep. We offer a few different types of appliances. Depending on the details of your unique case, we might determine that you could experience better breathing with a Herbst Advance appliance. Continue reading below to learn more about this effective and convenient device.
How Does an Oral Appliance Treat Sleep Apnea?
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs when soft tissues in the upper airway interfere with the free flow of oxygen. As a result, repeated pauses in breathing can occur. There may also be episodes of reduced breathing. Traditionally, a CPAP machine is used to address OSA. The machine forces pressurized air into a person’s body to keep them breathing. Unfortunately, many people dislike their CPAP machine and find it difficult to use.
Oral appliances feature a higher compliance rate than CPAP therapy. They are custom-made devices that gently reposition the lower jaw in order to keep the airway open. They almost resemble a mouthguard that is used during sports, though their overall design and purpose is quite different.
What Is a Herbst Advance Oral Appliance?
Herbst oral appliances have existed for more than 100 years. In fact, they were first used as a way to treat TMJ disorder back in 1909! Since then, they have transitioned into being one of the most popular ways to treat obstructive sleep apnea. Many companies make Herbst appliances. In our Eugene practice, we use the Herbst Advance appliance from SomnoMed.
It offers all the same advantages of traditional Herbst appliances, including:
- A comfortable fit
- Reliable retention
- Medicare approval
- Allowance of lateral movements
- Precise adjustments
The Herbst Advance even has additional benefits, such as the option to order it with a b-flex Comfort Liner and well-designed mechanisms that are unlikely to jam.
What Can I Expect with a Herbst Oral Appliance?
To design your Herbst Advance appliance, our team will take impressions of your mouth, which will be used as the basis for designing your custom appliance. Once it is ready, you will try it out in our office, and we will adjust it for you.
You should start wearing your appliance to bed every night. The telescoping arms on the sides of your appliance will help to keep your lower jaw in the correct position. You might notice a difference in the quality of your sleep the first night.
With proper care, your appliance might last for several years before it needs to be replaced. Be sure to keep it clean and regularly brush it with a soft toothbrush and a non-abrasive cleaning agent. You should also store it in its protective case whenever you are not using it.