Although traveling these days with CPAP is becoming more common, patients carrying such devices need to be aware of potential problems at security checkpoints at international travel points.

Earlier this week, when discussing a recent incident with one of my patients, I felt compelled to hit the paper with some recent travel obstacles he came across.  Being a seasoned traveler with lots of experience with international travel, he thought he was ahead of the game by bringing along a medical device description document for his CPAP.  Well, unfortunately it didn’t help his hope of a smooth run through security.

India was this patient’s travel destination.  So what happened at the airport designation in India? Well, being suspected of a potential weapon led to a complete dismantling, piece by piece, of his CPAP device. It was unusable for the remainder of his itinerary.  Anticipating continued travel overseas led his physician to refer him to us, for a common CPAP alternative treatment called oral appliance therapy. Oral appliance therapy which ‘appears far tamer’ than CPAP, is easier to travel with through security checkpoints than CPAP.

Will oral appliance therapy be his answer to easy travel? Well, we hope so. But even with the choice of the 80 such professional  devices out on the market, it may be best to choose a device that ‘appears’ the simplest, less cumbersome design to decrease the chance of security scrutiny of the oral device. A thoroughly trained dentist in dental sleep medicine is aware of quite a few options to choose from which can help reach a successful outcome.

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 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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With travel restrictions, increase in airport security and just a more hectic time of year, the last thing anyone needs is to complicate holiday travel with CPAP problems. Bringing your CPAP (an airway pressurized device that treats sleep apnea) is crucial for most apnea patients in maintaining one’s health and well being, and a good night’s sleep.

Below is a list of things to consider before you depart on your journey to help with CPAP travel:

1. Don’t forget to take an extension cord.
2. Empty the humidifier chamber.
3. Check power options on the plane if it is a long flight.
4. Check for power options at your destination if a remote area.
5. Will you need distilled water at your destination? And can the hotel help accommodate your request?
6. Do you have the correct converter or adapter plugs if needed?
7. Consider packing your CPAP as a carry-on.
8. Will you need to consider a battery option?
9. Do you need to bring any additional accessories or straps, such as a chin strap?

Dental Sleep and TMD Center of Illinois hope that this list helps you a with a successful CPAP travel experience.

If you are a successful CPAP user but tend to leave your prescribed treatment behind when traveling, consider professional oral appliance therapy, an effective CPAP alternative.  Oral appliance therapy is most often prescribed for mild to moderate apnea patients, as well as those not able to use CPAP therapy.  For more information on this physician recommended treatment options, visit www.TiredOfSnoring.com.