I Have OSA and Don’t Want CPAP: What Are My Options?
Obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA, is a sleeping disorder affecting millions of people. Many of those people, like you, have probably been told that the suggested treatment for obstructive sleep apnea is best treated with a CPAP machine. If you’re reading this, one of two things have happened:
- You tried CPAP and hated it, so you stopped using it, or
- You never even tried it because you knew you wouldn’t be able to bear it.
Either way, you don’t have to suffer or put your health at risk. There are other options to treat obstructive sleep apnea if you can’t – or won’t – tolerate the CPAP.
Oral Appliances Are a Great Alternative to CPAP Masks for OSA Treatment
For someone who simply cannot get used to being attached to a machine with a mask over their nose, an oral appliance will seem very freeing. It’s a far less invasive option than surgery to shift the tongue forward, and far less costly, too. There are two types of oral appliances, which you can review on our website. One retains the tongue to prevent it from collapsing into the throat. The other also adjusts the placement of the tongue but also repositions the lower jaw.
Benefits of Using an Oral Appliance to Treat Obstructive Sleep Apnea
The biggest benefit of using the oral appliance is compliance. Every doctor wants you to take treatment for sleep apnea. The health risks for not treating your sleep apnea range from mild to death. Untreated, sleep apnea can contribute to depression, cognitive function difficulty, or accidents at work or while driving. Sleep apnea has also been proven to contribute to high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and stroke. Other benefits of oral appliance therapy include:
- Oral appliances are comfortable and easy to wear
- Non-invasive form of snoring and sleep apnea therapy
- Significantly improves sleep apnea symptoms including oxygen saturation and daytime sleepiness
- Oral appliances are small and convenient for travel
- Higher compliance rates than with CPAP
If you have been struggling with sleep apnea and are looking for ways to manage it, contact eos dental sleep to set up an appointment. We can help determine the cause of your sleep issues, recommend, and provide our best treatment options.