When is it time to seek a CPAP alternative for my apnea?

Research shows that up to 40-50% patients do not tolerate their prescribed CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) therapy to treat the life altering condition of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Serious medical conditions may arise when OSA is not treated.

If you are not using your prescribed CPAP therapy, it may be time to consider CPAP alternative treatments. Most common recommended treatments might include professional oral appliance therapy, weight loss, positional therapy, or surgery.

Oral appliance therapy remains the 2^nd most recommended CPAP alternative therapy for most patients after weight loss and positional therapy have been considered, but not sufficient for the treatment of OSA. Oral appliance therapy consists of professionally made, custom mouth devices that keep your airway open with a ‘retainer’ type mouth device.  Some patients may call this a ‘sleep apnea mouth device’. It is highly recommended that individuals seeking this type of CPAP alternative treatment work with a dentist specifically trained in sleep disorders.

Not using your prescribed CPAP therapy might be just one reason to consider oral appliance therapy. But, there are other reasons that you may want to consider seeking the sleep apnea alternative treatment of oral appliance therapy.

Consider Professional Oral Appliance therapy if:

1.      You have tried CPAP therapy but still can’t wear it regularly, or for the entire night.
2.      You have been prescribed CPAP therapy but refuse to use it.
3.      You use CPAP therapy successfully, but you leave it behind during travel.
4.      You use CPAP therapy regularly, but don’t feel any positive effects from its use.
5.      You grind your teeth during sleep and find wearing CPAP together with a night guard just “too much”.
6.      You are able to use CPAP but your mouth repeatedly drops open and wearing a chins strap is “too much”.
7.      You are in a new relationship and would like something more portable than CPAP.
8.      You are traveling to destinations that electrical connections are questionable.
9.      Your diagnosis was too low to be considered OSA but have poor sleep quality, snore or excessively tired through out the day.
10. You snore and have no other known symptoms related to the snoring.

Dental Sleep and TMD Center of Illinois, a premiere snoring and apnea treatment center in Naperville, has been providing the CPAP alternative treatment of oral appliance therapy s for over 15 years successfully. We are extremely passionate in helping individuals that have been struggling with CPAP therapy in Naperville, Wheaton, Aurora, Bolingbrook and surrounding Chicago suburbs. For more information on this physician recommended treatment option, visit www.TiredOfSnoring.com or call us at (630)369-5508.

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