I NEED A CPAP Alternative
Many patients who are diagnosed with sleep apnea are prescribed a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device, which requires them to wear a mask covering their nose and mouth while they are asleep. Patients often find these masks uncomfortable, and they can even provoke anxiety and panic in some cases. Understandably, many patients abandon this treatment because they can’t make it work for their lives. Fortunately, oral appliance therapy is a more comfortable option that is often as effective as a CPAP device. If you’re fed up with your CPAP mask, this treatment can be an alternative for you.
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I’VE GIVEN UP ON MY CPAP MASK. WHAT ARE OTHER OPTIONS?
If you want to get rid of your CPAP mask, you’re far from alone. After all, what good is a CPAP mask if you’re not even wearing it every night? Patients who find a CPAP mask uncomfortable and inconvenient may want to explore oral appliance therapy as an alternative. With this approach, the patient wears a custom-designed appliance that is similar to a mouthguard. The appliance fits comfortably in the patient’s mouth and helps to hold the jaw or tongue in a position that makes it less likely that the airway will be blocked while the patient is asleep.
HOW DOES ORAL APPLIANCE THERAPY DIFFER FROM THE CPAP MASK?
Oral appliance therapy differs from the CPAP device in a number of important ways that tend to improve compliance with wearing the appliance as directed. As discussed above, the oral appliance worn to prevent sleep apnea is much more comfortable than a CPAP mask. In fact, many patients report that they have significant trouble sleeping with a CPAP mask. So, they may get as little rest wearing the mask as they do while suffering from sleep apnea. Additionally, the oral appliance is more convenient for travel, as it can be tucked away in an overnight bag. When you use a CPAP device, you have to drag the entire piece of equipment with you wherever you may go.
