Do you wake up feeling a little zombish? Feeling like you really didn’t get the refreshing sleep you need? Well this could be an indication that you suffer from snoring or sleep apnea. Many have turned to snoring appliances for relief.
There are many remedies and over the counter treatments that claim to get rid of snoring and sleep apnea, but the best way to be sure is to have a sleep study done by your physician. Your doctor may recommend a CPAP machine or an oral appliance. Here are some advantages to using a oral appliance.
Not all patients are CPAP compliant. Some people don’t like the idea of forced air, bed partners can find them irritating and they may take some time to get use to. However, an oral appliance is custom fitted to your jaw and it doesn’t interfere with sleep position. Best of all it doesn’t cover your face like a CPAP mask does.
The oral appliances are small and you can take them with you everywhere you go. They don’t need to be plugged in and don’t use batteries. Just place it in your mouth and go.
If you must travel, some CPAP machines can be bulky and burdensome. You need a special bag to carry it around with all the accessories. The oral appliance is lightweight and can fit in a purse or even in a jacket pocket. Patients usually don’t face any TSA problems traveling with their oral appliances.
Sanitizing a CPAP machine can be a major chore. It involves taking your machine apart making sure water doesn’t enter the machine. Soaking in a water/vinegar solution and cleaning filters. Or you can spend $200 – $400 on sanitizing machines that will automatically clean your CPAP. With an oral device the care is easy and non-complicated. You would take care of it like you would any removable denture, by soaking in a denture cleaner or brushing them with an appliance brush which is usually supplied with your appliance.
More severe cases of sleep apnea are generally treated with CPAP machines. Oral sleep appliances assist patients with severe sleep apnea who are unable to use CPAP machines. Patients with mild or moderate sleep apnea are recommended to use an oral application as well.
Oral applications have been proven to be a medically effective treatment for sleep apnea and snoring. A sleep study ordered by your sleep doctor can show if you are risk. When your sleep study results are received, your dental sleep specialist can submit it to your insurance company showing the medical necessity for the device.
The last thing you want to hear when you are trying to get some sleep is your CPAP machine. While they are effective, some are noisy and may disturb your sleep. Oral appliances make no noise at all.
Oral appliances are very sturdy and made from durable materials. When caring for these appliances in the proper manner, they can list for years without problems.
Before considering any sleep apnea treatments, it is recommended that you get a comprehensive initial exam with a reputable sleep apnea dentist who is properly credentialed in the treatment of sleep apnea. You and your sleep specialist can decide if an oral appliance is the best treatment for you.
We offer treatment for sleep apnea, TMJ, and Botox. We are located in Staten Island, Williston Park, East Meadow, New York and surrounding cities. Call us to book your appointment today.
