Oral Appliance Therapy
What Is an Oral Appliance?
An oral appliance looks very similar to a sports mouthguard or a set of orthodontic retainers. Like an orthodontic retainer, an oral appliance is only worn overnight while you sleep, so it won't affect your speech or self-confidence during the daytime.
Unlike a store-bought night guard, each appliance made at our Orchard Park, NY dental office is custom-crafted to complement your bite, correct imbalances, and reduce the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) or temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders.
Benefits of Oral Appliance Therapy
Non-Surgical
At Buffalo TMJ in Orchard Park, NY, our mission is to help you alleviate pain, open your airways, and treat dysfunction without surgery. Oral appliance therapy is a non-surgical treatment option that can be modified at any point and involves virtually no recovery time.
Cost-Effective
While other doctors may try to alleviate disorders with invasive surgery or extensive, expensive dental work, Dr. Dolgos will always attempt to treat your TMJ disorder or sleep apnea with oral appliance therapy, which is more cost-effective than other forms of therapy.
Comfortable
Over the last several years, Dr. Dolgos has worked hard to create the most comfortable, effective, and durable orthotics. While store-bought oral appliances are often one-size-fits-all, our appliances are customized to your smile for maximum comfort.
Flexible
Many patients are worried that they will have to wear their appliances during the day and that their speech or eating habits might be affected. This is not the case! Dr. Dolgos creates his own oral appliances, so he is able to customize each device to the patient's individual needs and personal preferences.
Contact Us Today To Learn How Oral Appliance Therapy Can Help You
Do you think you might have obstructive sleep apnea or TMJ disorder? Or are you searching for an alternative to your current CPAP or nightguard routine? Dr. Dolgos can help.
Over the past two decades, Dr. Dolgos has focused his dental practice on the treatment of jaw dysfunction and sleep disorders through conservative yet effective treatments such as oral appliance therapy. He is affiliated with several notable organizations, including the:
- Academy of General Dentistry
- American Academy of Craniofacial Pain
- American Academy of Physiological Medicine & Dentistry
- American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine
- Association for Comprehensive Energy Psychology
- Institute for Advanced Laser Dentistry
Using his advanced training and personalized treatment philosophy, Dr. Dolgos can help you overcome your symptoms without painful or expensive procedures. To learn more about how we treat sleep apnea and TMJ disorders with conservative therapy, request an appointment online or call our team in Orchard Park, NY, at:
(716) 675-5858
Hear from Our Patients
rocco S
2020
Wonderful. Helpful. Professional!
Lydia Romer
2019
Very pleased with Doctor and staff. Professional and extremely competent. Short wait time, friendly everyone, easy parking. Most of all, my treatments seem to be working.
Here's how oral appliances help with sleep apnea...
About Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea inhibits your breathing during the night and interrupts your sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea (also known as OSA) is the most common type of sleep apnea. OSA is caused by the overrelaxation of muscles at the back of the throat. When the throat muscles relax, your airways become constricted, causing you to stop breathing and waking you up several times throughout the night. Because obstructive sleep apnea causes interrupted sleep, it can result in low energy, daytime drowsiness, irritability, and other serious health concerns.
How We Treat Sleep Apnea with Oral Appliances
Like an orthodontic retainer, an oral appliance for sleep apnea is worn only while you sleep. It pushes the lower mandible forward, keeping the upper airways open and improving your breathing. According to the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, research shows that oral appliance therapy is an effective treatment option for snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. At our Orchard Park practice, we have changed the lives of many patients by treating obstructive sleep apnea with oral appliance therapy.
Oral Appliance Therapy vs. CPAP What's the Difference?
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is a commonly used therapy for sleep apnea that uses a face mask that pushes air into your nose and/or mouth, keeping your airways open while you sleep and reducing snoring. While CPAP is effective, it can be uncomfortable to wear, resulting in poor compliance from patients.
Are you looking for an alternative to CPAP therapy? Compared to CPAP therapy, oral appliances for OSA are more comfortable, less noisy, and easier to use. They are also smaller and more portable than a CPAP appliance, allowing you to travel with ease.
What about TMJ?
About TMJ Disorders
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders are disorders that affect the jaw joints and muscles. These disorders affect millions of Americans, causing pain, discomfort, and loss of function. Left untreated, TMJ disorder can seriously affect your dental and overall health.
Dr. Dolgos Explains Oral Appliances
In this video, Dr. Dolgos provides detailed explanations of the different kinds of oral appliances he offers to his patients. Consulting with an expert like Dr. Dolgos can help you decide which device is right for your situation.
What to Expect During Your Oral Appliance Therapy
"Improved my life so much!!" Real Patients Talk About Why They Love Buffalo TMJ
Tina Beck
2019
I am so happy to have my daughter and my mom coming here. Dr Dolgos and his staff are supper nice and professional. Its like a family there and your part of it....and the best thing...his treatment plans work!!!!!!
Julie Carlson
Orchard Park, NY
2023
Awesome Doctor and staff! Relaxing atmosphere, listens to your concerns and what you want for an outcome. They actually care about your overall well being. I drive over hour to get there, but worth the drive. Thank you Buffalo TMJ!
View on GoogleHow Much Does an Oral Appliance Cost?
At our Orchard Park practice, the cost of an oral appliance ranges.
To help you get the treatment you need, we offer several payment options. If part of your care is not covered by insurance, you can cover out-of-pocket costs with CareCredit® financing.
Worried about cost? Think of the benefits...
Benefits for Patients with Sleep Apnea
Alleviate Snoring
Snoring can be embarrassing for you and annoying for your bed partner. By alleviating snoring, you and your partner can enjoy uninterrupted sleep.
Improve Your Sleep
Most patients at our Orchard Park, NY, office near Buffalo report sleeping better and feeling more energized during the day.
Better Your Health
Better sleep leads to better health. Patients who treat their OSA can lower their risk of cardiovascular disease and other serious health concerns.
Our Treatments Truly Work
Justin Goss
2018
Dr Dolgos is the best Dentist I’ve ever had ! He is patient, kind, so smart and does everything he can to save and repair teeth. I was told I needed so many root canals and extractions by previous dentists but Dr Dolgos did everything he could to fix my teeth in a conservative fashion! He is honest and puts everything he has into helping his patients. His values and compassion for patients is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced! His staff is very kind and welcoming and Dr Dolgos is also a very cool guy and he always makes me feel comfortable and makes me laugh! Not many dentist offices do you feel comfortable or laugh much ! It’s always good times at Buffalo TMJ Thanks for your services !!!!!
View on GoogleMartin Snyder
2018
I was referred to Dr. Dolgos due to a severe episode of TMJ that resulted in much jaw pain and an inability to open my mouth. After an extensive evaluation, a treatment plan was developed, which gave me hope my condition would improve in time if i adhered to it. I was given a workbook and a journal to use to help guide me during the course of this experience. It has been 3 months since I first met with Dr. Dolgos. I now can eat normally, and have almost no jaw pain. The caring, compassion, professionalism, skill level, and genuine friendliness of the staff at Buffalo TMJ deserves to be recognized. I highly recommend this practice. Chris S
View on GoogleBenefits for Patients with TMJ Disorder
Improved Comfort
Jaw dysfunction can trigger uncomfortable symptoms and affect your quality of life. An oral appliance from our dentist can correct an imbalanced bite and alleviate painful symptoms.
Better Function
We believe that proper jaw function is critical to your wellbeing. In addition to alleviating discomfort, oral appliance therapy can help you chew, speak, and breathe better.
Ongoing Support
When you undergo TMJ treatment with us, you receive free access to our TMJ Academy, which includes e-books, downloadable resources, and videos to support you during your recovery.
Why Choose Buffalo TMJ? Our Sole Focus Is TMJ Treatment
While other dental practices may offer oral appliances, Buffalo TMJ's main focus is the treatment of jaw problems and sleep apnea. By focusing on the treatment of TMJ disorders, we are in a position to recommend the most effective appliances for our patients.
Receive Treatment From a Dentist You Can Trust Dr. Jeffrey Dolgos Tests His Own Oral Appliances
Over the years, Dr. Dolgos has developed oral appliances that are customized to treat each patient's unique needs. He even goes as far as to create custom appliances for himself so he can test them before prescribing them to patients. This ensures that the appliances he's making are comfortable, effective, and durable. Patients can trust that they're receiving an oral appliance that even their dentist would use.
If you have any questions about oral appliance therapy or would like to request an appointment, fill out our online contact form or call our Buffalo, NY, office:
(716) 675-5858
