How Long Will I Have to Use My CPAP Machine?

Many people have a love-hate relationship with their CPAP machine. On the one hand, it can allow you to breathe more easily at night, enabling you to get the high-quality rest you need to feel your best. On the other hand, the mask, wires, and hoses can be uncomfortable — and the machine can make some annoying noises. How long will you have to keep using your CPAP therapy in Boca Raton? If it isn’t comfortable for you, are there any alternative options? Let’s discuss the answers to these important questions.

CPAP Therapy Does Not Cure Sleep Apnea

It is important to bear in mind that CPAP therapy does not cure sleep apnea; it only manages it. Within a few days of ceasing to use your machine, you may notice that your symptoms, such as snoring and fatigue, make a comeback.

For your therapy to continue to be effective, it should be used indefinitely. Some individuals must continue to use their machine for many months on end — perhaps even for a lifetime.

Of course, you may safely be able to stop using your machine if the underlying cause of your sleep apnea in Boca Raton is addressed. For example, when obese individuals lose weight, they often find that they can sleep well without their machine. Other people undergo surgery to correct issues in the throat that contribute to sleep apnea.

A Convenient Alternative

If your CPAP machine isn’t right for you, there may not be any need for you to put up with it forever. There might be an alternative treatment that you can use while you work to address the underlying cause of your condition (if doing so is possible in your case).

Many apnea patients qualify for a custom oral appliance, which is a device designed by a dentist who has completed specialized training in sleep apnea therapy. The appliance gently repositions the jaw, moving it slightly forward. As a result, the airway can stay open at night, allowing for unhindered breathing.

Oral appliance therapy has several advantages over a CPAP machine. For example, the appliance is silent, free of wires and hoses, and easy to pack with you when you go on vacation.

Don’t Give Up on Treatment

Any type of sleep apnea treatment can take some getting used to, whether it is a CPAP machine or an oral appliance. Whichever one you use, be sure to give it a fair chance. Most people are able to adjust within a few weeks, particularly if they opt for oral appliance therapy. Your determination to comply with treatment will reward you with better sleep and improved overall health!

Meet the Sleep Apnea Expert

Dr. Kenneth Mogell is double-board certified in dental sleep medicine. As a leading expert on oral appliance therapy, he has already helped countless patients to find freedom from their CPAP machine. To learn more about Dr. Mogell and how he may be able to help you, contact any of our locations or call us at 561-353-5252.