Do I Have to Use a CPAP Machine if I Have Sleep Apnea?

Traditionally, doctors treated sleep apnea, the cessation of breathing for ten or more seconds at a time during sleep, using CPAP systems. Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) is only one option for patients who are suffering from sleep apnea. This is good news since more than 50% of patients with sleep apnea are considered CPAP intolerant due to an inability to adjust to the sounds and sensations of their CPAP systems during sleep. For sleep apnea patients who are CPAP intolerant, a trip to the dentist for a sleep apnea appliance may be a better treatment option.

CPAP & Sleep Apnea

CPAP systems use filtered, pressurized air to force the throat open and keep the airway clear during sleep. These treatments offer effective solutions for patients with both central and obstructive sleep apnea. Unfortunately, too many patients just can’t adjust to the feeling of wearing a heavy, uncomfortable face mask, the sensation of air being forced down their throats, and the sounds make it harder for them to sleep.

Alternative CPAP Therapies

The most often recommended CPAP alternative is oral appliance therapy. Sleep apnea appliances use the same method as mouth to mouth to create a more open airway. If you’ve ever received CPR or mouth to mouth training, the first thing you learn is to shift the head back and the jaw forward and down to open the airway. Sleep apnea appliances work the same way. By moving the lower jaw forward and down, pressure is placed on the throat muscles to keep the airway clear, allowing patients to breathe deeply and sleep soundly.

Benefits of Visiting the Dentist for Sleep Apnea Treatment

Dentists have years of advanced training in the way oral and facial structures interact, and that includes the functioning of the airway. Benefits of treatment using a sleep apnea appliance from the dentist include:

• More comfortable than CPAP for many patients
• Easier to travel with than large, bulky CPAP systems
• Less risk for treatment intolerance
• Improved patient compliance

Meet Dr. LJ

At the Worthington dental office of Dr. LJ Adam, we offer a wide range of treatment options to keep patients smiling. With years of advanced training and experience in dental sleep medicine, Dr. LJ can even help his patients get a better night’s sleep. If you have recently been diagnosed with sleep apnea or deemed CPAP intolerant, contact our office to schedule your sleep apnea consultation today. If you suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, a custom oral appliance may be just what you need to improve your quantity and quality of sleep.