The Problem with CPAP
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is characterized by stoppages in breathing as you sleep, which can happen dozens, even hundreds, of times a night. Your airway collapses, cutting off your access to air, so you have to support the airway. The most common treatment for OSA is Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP). This treatment has successfully treated many people. It forces air through the mouth and nose, keeping the airway open. However, many people may have trouble using or continuing to use it.
The CPAP machine requires that its users wear a mask over the mouth and/or nose as they sleep. As a result, many users have said they can only tolerate using it for a few hours a night. Some users complain of runny nose, dry mouth, sore throat, and eye irritation. Others experience gassiness and bloating in the morning. Some people break out in acne due to the straps. The mask is attached to a hose hooked up to a pump, so CPAP patients who are more comfortable on their stomachs may also have problems. And the noise from the machine may keep many people awake.
CPAP Alternatives
Although CPAP is the most common treatment for OSA, it is not the only one. In fact, studies have shown that a custom-made oral sleep appliance is actually more helpful in reducing mild to moderate sleep apnea while having less of the side effects normally associated with CPAP.
Some people try lifestyle modifications such as changing their sleep position and losing weight. Although these can help, they’re rarely effective enough for people with severe sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea surgery is another alternative. Because people with sleep apnea are at increased risk for surgical complications, people should approach this alternative with caution. In addition, even when sleep apnea surgery is effective, the results tend to degrade over time.
Our dental office offers dental sleep medicine treatment with oral appliance therapy (OAT). An oral appliance is like a mouth guard you wear at night to improve your breathing. This means it helps with sleep apnea and loud snoring. It is extremely comfortable, with a 95% compliance and success rate. For appropriate candidates—especially those with mild to moderate sleep apnea—it can be even more effective than CPAP.
Oral Appliance Therapy Options
At Rochester Advanced Dentistry, we offer three oral appliance options to help you find the one that works best for you:
- ProSomnus Sleep and Snore Device
- SomnoDent
- MicrO2
During your consultation, we can assess your airway to determine which oral appliance is best for your needs. More information on each is below.
Benefits of ProSomnus Sleep and Snore Device
The ProSomnus® Sleep and Snore Device is highly customizable, providing each patient with a unique and personalized treatment plan. Our dentists can add airway openings, splint coverage, different dual post angles, and more to customize the appliance to meet your needs. The ProSomnus® oral appliance moves the jaw forward so that the tongue and other soft tissue don’t collapse into the airway. We ensure the appliance not only prevents your airway from getting obstructed during sleep but that it fits comfortably and doesn’t affect your bite’s most relaxed position and cause a TMJ disorder. The oral appliance will help you get one of your best nights of sleep without the hassles that come with CPAP.
Benefits of SomnoDent
The SomnoDent oral appliance is manufactured by SomnoMed, one of the pioneers of oral appliance therapy. The device has evolved over the last two decades and has been influenced by the continuous application of the scientific method to its design. This means that the appliance has become more effective—and more comfortable—than ever. Utilizing a proprietary lining material, SomnoDent appliances fit comfortably and securely, helping them stay in place so that you continue to benefit from your oral appliance all night long.
Benefits of MicrO2
For many people, MicrO2 offers many more benefits over other snoring and sleep apnea devices, including:
- Lower profile for greater comfort
- More tongue room
- Easy adjustment
- Lip and cheek borders contoured for comfort
- Digital design and fit improve accuracy and efficiency
- Highly durable
Its compact design is one of the most important innovations in developing the MicrO2 snoring and sleep apnea device. This makes it feel more comfortable and can help you avoid bite problems. The MicrO2 is designed not to intrude on the space for your tongue. Some people think that other oral appliances make it hard to find a good place for their tongue, which makes MicrO2 a better choice for them. MicrO2 is easy to adjust: just trade out the part you’re wearing for a different one. MicrO2 uses modern digital CAD/CAM techniques to achieve excellent fit. Plus, MicrO2 is designed to be one of the most durable snoring and sleep apnea devices available. Its simple design and rugged construction maximize the lifetime of this appliance.
Are These Alternatives Effective?
When properly used, CPAP is a very effective sleep apnea treatment, especially for severe sleep apnea. If you are diagnosed with severe sleep apnea, we will recommend attempting CPAP therapy. However, we also treat many severe sleep apnea cases involving CPAP intolerance or claustrophobia. If you can not tolerate CPAP, our sleep appliance is an extremely effective solution for you, providing relief without the frustrating side effects.
Because CPAP is so inconvenient and uncomfortable, few people use it as they should. Studies have shown that oral appliances achieve the same or better results overall because people use oral appliances more reliably.
We will teach you how to adjust your appliances for maximum comfort and effectiveness, helping you get the best results from your oral appliance.
We also offer monitoring that can help you refine the adjustment of your oral appliance. ApneaLink is a comfortable and easy-to-use home sleep test. It can be used to help diagnose sleep apnea, but this sleep study can also be used to monitor treatment effectiveness. If your treatment isn’t working, you are still at risk.
Because OSA is a potentially dangerous condition, if you believe you may suffer from it, please contact Rochester Advanced Dentistry online or call (248) 656-2020 for an initial consultation. We serve the Rochester, Rochester Hills, and Oakland Township, Michigan areas.
Find Relief for Sleep Apnea
Are you experiencing difficulties using CPAP to treat your mild to moderate sleep apnea? If so, don’t wait any longer to seek relief. Contact Rochester Advanced Dentistry today at (248) 656-2020 to discuss the different forms of sleep apnea treatment that are available. We look forward to seeing you. If you suspect you have sleep apnea but aren’t sure how serious your condition is, you can use the Sleep Apnea Questionnaire to get a better idea.
