Suffering from CPAP blues? A dental appliance may save your life

One of the most well-known treatments for Sleep Apnea has been the CPAP device. A night time air mask that pushes air into a patients throat while sleeping to prevent airway collapse. However, the machine is noisy and common complaints include sore nose, chin strap discomfort, panic attacks and insomnia. It has been estimated that 80% of patients are non-compliant with CPAP use after one year. Here are some alternatives to the CPAP machine.

What are the most common complaints with a CPAP mask?

A lot of patients complain of feeling claustrophobic, patients feel that it is restrictive, they can’t turn easily in bed. A lot of patients also complain that the strap irritates their face. Many complain the mask makes their mouth dry because of the forced air into the lungs. Patients also complain that machine is just not ‘sexy’. The machine makes noise, there is a strap on their face along with a mask, this makes them feel a little self-conscious with their bed partner. Many feel that the CPAP impedes on their personal life.

What other choices for sleep apnea treatment do patient’s have?

There are a few other options. Dream Smile Dental offers an oral appliance, the SomoDent. It is the only FDA approved oral appliance for the treatment of sleep apnea. We have, in fact, been using the SomnoDent oral device successfully for the last 5 years.

They first take some computerized diagnostic tests to determine the ideal position of the lower jaw and create from this a customized oral appliance which the patient just pops in at night. This opens up the airway and there is much more compliance from the patient side because it is far less restrictive. It is a mouth guard that is also used to position the jaw. It is a very small lifestyle change compared with the CPAP machine.

Does the SomnoDent appliance really work?

Yes! Dream Smile Dental has been using it for over 5 years with great success. More than half of patients have had more than 50% improvement in their sleep apnea.

For example, one patient who was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea was diagnosed with mild sleep apnea after use of the SomnoDent oral appliance.

As of February 1, 2006 the Academy of Sleep Medicine has designated sleep oral appliances as the number one treatment for sleep apnea and snoring.

To hear the podcast, please visit: http://www.dreamsmiledental.com/podcast.html and check out Episode 3