Losing Sleep Over Snoring? CPAP Alternatives Are Here!

For the many sufferers of sleep apnea, the solution has always been some sort of oral appliance, a CPAP, or Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, machine, or a combination of both. However, some people are CPAP intolerant which can severely limit the treatment options for sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is a severe health concern for those who suffer from it. It reduces healthy sleep resulting in less restful sleep, consistent daytime sleepiness, and can actually increase the risk of suffering from strokes and heart attacks, not just decrease the quality of life for the sufferers. Sleep apnea is generally defined as when a person who is asleep quits breathing for periods of time approximately ten seconds long. This person will then wake just long enough to gasp for air and go back to sleep. This interrupted sleep is what causes the health problems, far more than the apnea itself.

Generally, the most often used, and is still considered the best treatment that is non-surgical for sleep apnea is the CPAP machine. This machine delivers air to the tissues that are responsible for the apnea either through a facemask or through a nasal mask. This air is pressurized and keeps the airways unobstructed. A person who is CPAP intolerant will have problems with this and be unable to feel comfortable either due to the air pressure that holds the tissues open or even the masks.

Occasionally, in the past, an oral appliance was also used with a CPAP to help home the tissues open. This has only been used in conjunction until relatively recently. An oral appliance has been approved by the FDA for sleep apnea, this makes only three approved treatments for sleep apnea that do not involve surgery.

Whether you use a CPAP machine, an oral appliance, or a combination of both, it is only going to help if you suffer from obstructive sleep apnea. If that is the form of sleep apnea that you have, you can find comfortable ways to deal with it without having to go the route of surgery.

A good dentist with experience in OSA can assist with a screening and finding a sleep lab for you. In fact, there are now even ways to record breathing problems while sleeping from your home if you are a good candidate. Your dentist, who is trained in Dental Sleep Medicine, can help fit you with an oral appliance which is custom made for each patient and will keep the airways open for a good night’s sleep.

Don’t wake up every morning feeling as though you haven’t slept. If you even suspect that you have sleep apnea, find a professional to help you pin down the cause and find a solution that fits you.