CPAP Alternatives in Hewitt, TX

Oral Appliance Therapy For Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleeping disorder that interrupts your breathing overnight. This causes you to wake up repeatedly, often without knowing it, in addition to snoring loudly. Sleep apnea also prevents you from getting the quality rest you need, leaving you fatigued and unfocused during the day.

Without treatment, sleep apnea can lead to severe health consequences including heart attacks, strokes, and more. That’s why it’s essential to get an accurate diagnosis from a sleep specialist and find a treatment plan that suits your needs.

The Problem With CPAP

In many cases, the first treatment recommended for sleep apnea is a CPAP machine. The machine pumps a steady stream of pressurized air through a mask that’s worn over your nose while you sleep. When they’re used properly, CPAP machines are an effective treatment that will help relieve your symptoms.

However, many patients stop using CPAP or avoid it entirely because of the many inconveniences. The mask is bulky and uncomfortable to wear, while the machine makes a constant noise that can disrupt your sleep. In addition, CPAP forces you to sleep on your back and you’ll need to detach the mask every time you get up.

With all these drawbacks, it’s not surprising that the compliance rate for CPAP drops significantly as the treatment progresses. That’s why our Hewitt sleep dentists offer oral appliance therapy as a less-invasive alternative for sleep apnea treatment.

Oral Appliance Therapy

An oral appliance is a small device, similar to a mouthguard, that’s worn overnight while you sleep. It’s designed to gently move your jaw forward and prevent your tongue from collapsing into the airway, allowing you to breathe freely throughout the night. Over time, an oral appliance can significantly reduce snoring and other sleep apnea symptoms.

To ensure maximum comfort, all of our oral appliances are customized to match your unique bite. Though you may experience some mild discomfort for the first few days, this should fade quickly as your mouth gets used to the appliance. Before long, you may not even notice it at all.

Benefits of Oral Appliance Therapy

Oral appliances offer several advantages over CPAP machines, including:

• Comfortable — Every appliance is personalized just for you to ensure maximum comfort.
• Silent — Unlike CPAP machines, oral appliances don’t make any noise and won’t disrupt your sleep.
• Portable — Packing up a bulky CPAP machine and mask can be challenging, but the small size of oral appliances makes them easy to travel with.
• No Wires or Tubes — You’ll wear your appliance all night, as opposed to disconnecting and reconnecting your CPAP mask every time you get up.
• Allows You to Sleep in Any Position — While CPAP machines force patients to sleep on their back, an oral appliance allows you to sleep in any position that feels comfortable to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I choose an oral appliance instead of CPAP?

Though CPAP machines are effective when used properly, many patients find them too intrusive to sleep with. The machine makes a loud noise, the mask is uncomfortable, and you’re forced to sleep on your back.

Oral appliances are a minimally-invasive alternative that our dentists can customize to your jaw for maximum comfort. They’re also small, easily portable, and allow you to sleep in any position you like.

Which type of oral appliance is best?

There are several types of oral appliances available and the best one for you could vary depending on your case. During your initial consultation, one of our experienced dentists will evaluate your symptoms and determine the best solution for you.

Will an oral appliance help my snoring if I don’t have sleep apnea?

In most cases, yes! Snoring can be caused by a wide range of factors, some of which have no relation to sleep apnea. An oral appliance will help reduce your snoring and improve your quality of sleep, regardless of whether you suffer from sleep apnea.

Visit Central Texas Dental Care for CPAP Alternatives

If you’ve been diagnosed with sleep apnea, it’s crucial that you get treatment right away. The longer you wait, the more likely your condition will begin to threaten your overall health.

For patients who want a less-invasive alternative to CPAP, an oral appliance is an ideal solution. This device will allow you and your partner to finally enjoy the quality sleep you deserve.

Call our Hewitt practice at (254) 666-1686 to schedule an initial consultation with one of our dentists. It’s your first step to a better nights’ sleep.