Posted on Wednesday, December 23rd, 2015 at 3:46 pm
Snoring caused by obstructive sleep apnea isn’t funny, it’s scary. In the United States alone, it’s estimated that more than 1 in 5 Americans (over 40 million people) suffer from at least a mild to moderate form of OSA.
Now, you may be thinking to yourself, “so I snore a little loud, so what?”
But that isn’t the real problem. You see, the word apnea literally means “a cessation in breathing.” You’re not just snoring, you actually stop breathing. During episodes of sleep apnea, the oxygen supply to the brain is cut off, which can lead to grogginess or disorientation at best, or brain damage and possibly even death in serious cases.
Scary isn’t it?
Fortunately for you, sleep apnea is a treatable condition, and in this article we’re going to explore two very different, yet highly effective methods for treating sleep apnea. If you think you may have sleep apnea, we provide at home sleep apnea testing, and you can contact us here (links to contact page) for further details.
CPAP Treatment: The gold standard for sleep apnea treatment
If you’re reading this article, you’ve likely either tried CPAP yourself, or know someone that has. It’s been the most effective, albeit cumbersome method to treat sleep apnea over the past 30+ years.
Below, we’ll review the advantages and disadvantages of using CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure).
Pros:
Highly effective at treating severe obstructive sleep apnea. An established method backed by 30+ years of data and research.
Has saved countless lives since the 1980s, and continues to be a leading prescription for sleep apnea sufferers.
Health insurance will usually cover all costs associated with CPAP sleep apnea treatment.
Cons:
Machines are noisy, making it difficult in some cases for your partner to get a complete, restful night’s sleep.
Travel with a CPAP machine is difficult. It adds excess luggage, and usually has to be taken as a carry-on.
Requires electricity. If the electricity at your house or apartment goes out, you’re stuck without treatment for the night.
Oral Appliance Therapy: The minimally invasive, convenient solution for sleep apnea sufferers
Oral appliance therapy is a great alternative for OSA sufferers with a mild to moderate condition. In fact, according to a journal article from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, “The new parameters state that oral appliances are indicated for treatment of mild to moderate OSA (obstructive sleep apnea) in patients who prefer them or do not respond to CPAP.”
As you can see, oral appliances are gaining traction fast within the sleep apnea community as an effective, minimally invasive way to treat sleep apnea patients.
Pros:
The vast majority of patients report that their oral appliance is comfortable and does not inhibit sleep.Health insurance will usually cover costs associated with an oral sleep apnea device.
Travel with an oral appliance is easy. The device is small and fits right in your luggage.
Unlike CPAP, an oral appliance does not make any noise; meaning that your spouse or partner will be able to get a restful night’s sleep.
An oral appliance does not require electricity like a CPAP machine.
Cons:
Oral appliances are not recommended for patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea, or patients with central sleep apnea.
The right choice depends on your goals and lifestyle
For severe sleep apnea sufferers, CPAP may be the only option. However, if you suffer from mild to moderate OSA and don’t like the idea of wearing a mask to bed every night, a custom oral appliance from Babylon Dental Care may be the solution you’ve been looking for.
On the other hand, if you don’t travel much, and don’t mind some of the disadvantages of CPAP, then it may be a perfectly acceptable solution for your OSA.
Are you interested in oral appliance therapy for your obstructive sleep apnea?
If you think that you may be suffering from mild to moderate sleep apnea, we encourage you to give our office a call, or contact us here (link to contact page). We believe that every OSA sufferer deserves a restful night’s sleep, and we’ve helped hundreds of patients along the South Shore of Long Island achieve just that.
What are you waiting for? You don’t have to live with sleep apnea, and we offer alternatives to bulky, inconvenient CPAP machines. So give our office a call today to discuss your options.
Sources:
https://somnomed.com/cpap-vs-oral-device-therapy/