Ask Dr. Rogers

Dr. Rogers is more than happy to answers your questions about snoring and sleep apnea and how oral appliance therapy can help. He can be reached at 724-935-6670 or by email at info@pghdsm.com

Q: How do I make an appointment?

A: Please call the office at 724-935-6670.

Q: Will my insurance cover some of the cost of the appliance therapy?

A: Yes. Your medical insurance should cover the vast majority of the expenses associated with the therapy if it is performed by a dentist with adequate training and experience. Dr. Rogers is now in-network with Highmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield and UPMC Health Plan as well as most other insurance plans. The cost of therapy may vary slightly from person to person depending upon differing circumstances. An accurate determination of total cost can only be made after evaluation/consultation with Dr. Rogers.

Presently, most insurance companies are covering the vast majority of the expense. Your personal out-of-pocket expenditures should be reasonable in most cases but will vary depending upon your insurance policy.

Q: Are oral appliances effective?

A: Yes. Therapy with oral appliances are supported by over 20 years of published scientific research. When performed by an adequately trained and experienced sleep-disorders dentist, appliances are very effective for the majority of patients with mild and moderate sleep apnea. Although some cases of severe apnea have been adequately treated with oral appliances, it is not predictable and a trial of CPAP is generally prudent. Based on the most recent research, The American Academy of Sleep Medicine has recommended oral appliances as an option for first-line treatment of mild to moderate sleep apnea, and for treatment of severe sleep apnea when CPAP is ineffective or not well-tolerated.

Q: Will an oral appliance reduce my snoring?

A: Yes. Oral appliances are very effective in reducing snoring. Recent research indicates that 85 to 95% of the subjects tested indicated that their has snoring had been reduced adequately to allow the bed partner to sleep undisturbed.

Q: Are there any side effects?

A: Minor, temporary side effects may include excessive salivation, slight jaw and muscle tenderness, slight tooth soreness and sometimes dry mouth. These particular side effects are generally minor, subside rapidly and typically do not preclude appliance use. In some patients, slight movement of the teeth will occur and in others, significant bite changes may occur.

Q: Do I need a sleep study before getting an oral appliance?

A: Yes. Some type of sleep study is always needed prior to any form of therapy to treat snoring or sleep apnea. During a sleep apnea episode, oxygen in the blood can frequently fall to dangerously low levels resulting in high blood pressure and an increased risk for heart attack and stroke. The sleep study prior to therapy provides the doctor with important information so that all the problems associated with sleep disordered breathing can be properly addressed.

Q: Can I use an oral appliance with dentures or partial dentures?

A: The oral appliances that are used most often (mandibular repositioning devices) and which are most effective, require at least 10 strong, healthy teeth in both the upper arch and lower arch. People with no teeth or many missing teeth are not good candidates for mandibular repositioning devices. However, tongue retaining devices may be used in these instances although they are more difficult to tolerate.

Q: Will the oral appliances I see sold over the Internet and on TV help me?

A: Probably not. Although the concept of lower jaw repositioning is beneficial to treat snoring and sleep apnea, much is dependent on the quality of the appliance and the dentist who is managing it. The appliances sold on TV and over the Internet are very low quality, poorly fitting and are not properly adjustable. In addition, they sidestep having a qualified physician and dentist manage the problem. Snoring is often a danger sign signaling a serious disease called sleep apnea which can lead to serious medical problems such as high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke and depression. Also, oral appliances can have significant dental side effects and always require guidance by a qualified dentist. Full story...

A research article was recently published in the scientific literature that compared the TV/Internet appliances with the better custom-made appliances. It showed that snoring and sleep apnea were managed much better by the custom-made appliances under the guidance of the dentist. Furthermore, it demonstrated that most of the people who were not successful on the low-quality appliances turned out to be very successfully treated on the custom-made devices and preferred them over the low-quality devices.

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