Apnea, sleep apnea and Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) are defined as the cessation of breathing for 10 or more seconds while asleep. Snoring is often an associated problem with sleep apnea. Often this is what the patient, parent or spouse notices.
Sleep apnea appliances worn at night move the lower jaw into a forward position, creating a more open airway, help minimize snoring, and help alleviate night-time breathing problems.
The Nocturnal Airway Patency Appliance (NAPA) is very effective in reducing the signs and symptoms of both OSA and snoring. The NAPA increases the tonicity of the tongue by stretching muscle spindles, and inhibits movement of chewing muscles to prevent the tongue from retracting. The NAPA also stabilizes the anchorage of the jaw to the geniohyoid muscle to permit protraction of the hyoid bone and tongue.