Sleep Assessment
Millions of people were affected by a recent recall of Philips Respironics CPAP machines. If you were among them, you might be wondering what your next steps are. Should you get a different type of CPAP, or should you explore alternative treatments for your sleep apnea in Topeka? If you are leaning toward the latter option, you may want to learn more about oral appliance therapy from a sleep dentist. Let’s talk about what an oral appliance is and some of the advantages it offers over CPAP.
What Is an Oral Sleep Appliance?
An oral appliance is a small, custom-made device that resembles a mouthguard that you might wear for sports. However, rather than protecting your mouth from injury, a sleep appliance’s main purpose is to slightly shift the jaw forward. This helps to keep the airway open at night and prevents pauses in breathing. Oral appliance therapy is highly effective for most patients with mild to moderate sleep apnea. However, it has proven helpful in some severe cases as well.
Advantages of Oral Appliance Therapy
Many patients who have tried both CPAP therapy and an oral appliance find that they prefer their appliance. There are numerous reasons for this, including:
No Dangerous Chemicals
The CPAP machines that were recently recalled contained a foam that was meant to reduce noise and vibrations. Unfortunately, the foam could break down, after which the patients could inhale the chemicals in it. An oral appliance is completely silent to begin with, so it contains no such foam. It is also made out of materials that the vast majority of patients tolerate very well.
Easy Travel
If you have ever flown with your CPAP machine, you may recall that it was a hassle. Not only did you have to check airline regulations, but you also had to make sure that your place of lodging was appropriately set up for using it. An oral appliance is much more convenient. You can easily slip it into your carry-on luggage, and it has no electrical cords, hoses, or tubes that need to be cared for.
Comfort
Like any medical treatment, oral appliance therapy may take a bit of getting used to. Overall, though, many patients find it to be more tolerable than a CPAP. There is no annoying mask to cover your nose and mouth, and there is no tubing to keep you tethered to a certain spot. Plus, because the oral appliance is not constantly pushing air against your lips and mouth, you may have fewer issues with dry throat and chapped lips.
Did the recent CPAP recall move you to consider alternative sleep apnea treatments? An oral appliance from a sleep dentist in Topeka might be perfect for you!
Meet the Practice
Dr. Michael E. Michel is a sleep dentist with decades of experience. He continually hones his skills through advanced education, and he is proud to offer oral appliance therapy. If you would like to learn more about your options for treating sleep apnea, he would be pleased to speak with you. Contact our office at 785-273-0802.