Learn about 3 Common CPAP Alternatives

When a patient is diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, their doctor may be quick to prescribe CPAP therapy, which involves the use of a machine that forces air into the throat in order to prevent disruptions in breathing. Unfortunately, while CPAP machines are effective, they have some significant downsides. Many patients find it difficult to comply with treatment. There is good news! Let’s talk about a few CPAP therapy alternatives in Boca Raton.

Lifestyle Changes

In many cases, symptoms of sleep apnea in Boca Raton can be reduced or even eliminated through lifestyle changes. For example, you might benefit by sleeping on your side, deep cleaning your bedroom, or cutting back on alcohol consumption.

Another change that may be beneficial is weight loss. Excess fat around the neck can increase the risk of airway obstructions during sleep.

The downside to lifestyle changes is that they are not always as effective as hoped for. Plus, healthy weight loss can take quite a bit of time to achieve. This approach tends to work best when it is paired with other sleep apnea treatments.

Surgery

Often, the cause of sleep apnea is an anatomical abnormality in the throat or jaw. Surgery may be able to correct such issues and provide long-term relief from sleep problems.

Of course, surgery will not be able to help everyone. It also comes with some inherent risks, such as infections, human error during the procedure, and more. Additionally, patients who undergo surgery may need to miss several days of work (or more) so they can recover. It is usually viewed as a last resort when it comes to addressing sleep apnea.

Oral Appliance Therapy

An oral appliance is a small device provided by a sleep dentist. It gently repositions the jaw to facilitate interruption-free breathing during sleep. It is smaller, quieter, easier to clean, and easier to travel with than a CPAP machine. Most patients do not find it difficult to regularly use their appliance.

An oral appliance also has some advantages over other CPAP alternatives, including:

• It can provide better sleep the very first night you use it.
• It has the ability to help you breathe well while you strive to shed excess weight (if obesity is contributing to your sleep apnea).
• It is completely noninvasive, which means it carries none of the risks that come with surgery.
• Unlike surgery, oral appliance therapy comes with no downtime.

CPAP therapy is the most common way to address obstructive sleep apnea — but it is far from your only option! An oral appliance may be the ideal way for you to start getting the restful shuteye you deserve.

Meet Your Boca Raton Sleep Apnea Expert

Dr. Kenneth Mogell is a dentist who is double board certified in dental sleep medicine. His practice focuses primarily on treating obstructive sleep apnea via oral appliance therapy. If you are struggling with your CPAP or have recently been diagnosed with sleep apnea, our team is ready to serve you. Contact any of our locations or call us at 561-353-5252.