Caused by the obstruction of the airways while asleep, sleep apnea affects countless individuals across the country. While the cause of this condition varies by patient, many are often recommended continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy as a means of treatment.
While considered the gold standard by most physicians, CPAP therapy can be difficult to adjust to, with many patients often choosing non-compliance over a better night’s rest. To help tackle non-compliance, oral appliances have become a popular method of treating mild to moderate cases of sleep apnea.
In addition to eliminating the machine component of treatment, there are several unique advantages of sleep apnea oral appliances, including:
Tailored to Your Needs: Every case of sleep apnea is unique. While CPAP is often considered blanket treatment for all forms of sleep apnea, oral appliances are tailored to comprehensively address the cause of each individual’s sleep apnea.
Custom Fit Appliances: Similar to other night guards, sleep apnea devices are created using custom impressions of your dentition, resulting in a comfortable fit and effective treatment. As the appliances are tailored to the patients’ smile, individuals find themselves able to comfortably sleep with the appliance in place, improving treatment compliance.
Easy Travel: For individuals that are constantly traveling, CPAP machines can be difficult to fit into a carry on. As these machines can also be fairly expensive, purchasing multiple machines for different locations is often not a feasible option. Oral appliances are similar in size to orthodontic retainers or bruxism mouth guards, making them easy to slip into a container and travel with.
Silent Care: CPAP machines are notorious for making noise when in use, making it difficult for light sleepers to enjoy a good night’s rest. As oral appliances are silent, many unable to tolerate the noise associated with CPAP find themselves able to enjoy undisrupted sleep with this appliance.
Easy Maintenance: With multiple tubes and masks, cleaning CPAP machines can become a hassle for busy patients. Cleaning sleep apnea devices is a simple, 15 minute soaking process that can be easily integrated into a daily hygiene routine.
In Pleasant Hill, Dr. Kevin T. Dowd and his team work closely with local sleep specialists and other medical professionals to find the right sleep apnea solution for each patient. For more information about using oral appliances as an alternative to CPAP therapy, contact our Pleasant Hill dentist today.