Sleep Apnea Therapy: CPAP vs. Oral Appliances

Sleep apnea therapy provides much-needed relief for patients dealing with the exhausting side effects of the condition that causes interrupted sleep. There are two main options for treating sleep apnea: the CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine, and a removable oral appliance. Which is right for you? Keep reading to learn more from Dr. Deborah Romack.

CPAP Therapy: Turn It Down!

Most patients who try the CPAP machine for relief from their sleep apnea will notice one thing: it’s loud! It’s a large device that keeps the airway open during sleep by continuously forcing air through the nasal passages. The CPAP has long been the leading treatment for sleep apnea, but even patients who have found relief from the condition using the machine will forgo its use in the face of its barriers to use.

Factors influencing the success of CPAP treatment:

• CPAP requires distilled water to function
• Partners of sleep apnea sufferers may find the CPAP machine too noisy for sleep
• The head strap and full-face mask are often uncomfortable for sleeping
• CPAP can make travel inconvenient, causing its sufferers to leave it behind altogether

Patients who have tried CPAP and either haven’t found relief for their symptoms, or who would like a quieter alternative to treating their sleep apnea, are relieved to learn there is another option: a removable oral appliance.

Oral Appliance Therapy for Sleep Apnea

The portable, silent option for treating sleep apnea is with an oral appliance. It’s a small mouth guard that works by repositioning the lower jaw and tongue during sleep. This function prevents their collapse and keeps the airway open throughout the night to eliminate snoring and other symptoms associated with sleep apnea.  (Click here to learn about the three types of oral appliances Dr. Romack offers at our Weatherford office.)

The oral appliance offers a number of benefits for treating sleep apnea. Some of the most apparent include the following:

• Oral appliances are silent and easy to use
• Oral appliances require no water or other special equipment to function
• The oral appliance is small and highly portable, so you can continue to enjoy relief from your sleep apnea even while traveling
• The oral appliance is usually more affordable than the CPAP

Combined Therapy for a More Restful Night

Patients who haven’t found relief from either a CPAP or an oral appliance may finally sleep through the night when we treat their sleep apnea with combined therapy. This method uses the CPAP as well as an oral device to provide patients with the benefits of both treatments — and to reduce the negatives of the CPAP.

Combined therapy is often preferred because it allows the sufferer to turn down the CPAP machine for a quieter night. Additionally, wearing the oral device along with the CPAP eliminates the need for the facial mask and head strap. Combined therapy helps you enjoy a more comfortable, more successful treatment overall.

Contact Us Today!

If you or someone you love are suffering from the effects of disordered sleep, don’t wait another day to seek sleep apnea therapy. Weatherford Dental Sleep Medicine offers free consultations. Schedule yours online today!