Why Oral Appliance Therapy Is Sometimes Better Than CPAP Treatment

Sleep apnea can disrupt your life if you leave it untreated. Your quality of sleep suffers, and if you snore loudly, your partner may struggle to sleep at night too because of the noise. You may have heard of CPAP therapy, which uses a machine to keep your airways open while you sleep. Although CPAP treatment works well for sleep apnea, oral appliance therapy is better in some cases.

If you aren't sure which treatment is right for you, then take a look at these advantages offered by oral appliance therapy.

Oral appliances don't make any noise

Although CPAP therapy is the most popular treatment for sleep apnea, it does have a few downsides. One of those downsides is the noise that CPAP machines make as they pump oxygen. For some people, the noise can keep them up at night.

Oral appliances that reposition the jaw or hold the tongue in a neutral position don't make any noise at all. In fact, if you sleep with your partner, an oral appliance might be better for them too if they don't like the noise of a CPAP machine.

Oral appliances are easier to carry with you

If you need to travel and sleep as well, you'll have to carry your sleep apnea device with you. CPAP machines are small but bulky. Oral devices, on the other hand, are small enough to fit in your pocket. This makes sleep apnea oral appliance therapy a more convenient method of controlling sleep apnea for travelers.

Customizable for the wearer

If you see a dentist about sleep apnea oral appliances, that dentist can create an oral appliance that fits your jaw and mouth precisely. This ensures a comfortable fit as you undergo your sleep apnea therapy. CPAP machines require you to wear a mask over your face, which may be uncomfortable for you while you sleep.

Very easy to use and set up

CPAP machines come with an electrical plug that you have to plug in, tubes, and a mask. When you are tired after a long day of work, an oral appliance is a much simpler means of controlling your sleep apnea. All you need do is place the oral appliance in your mouth and sleep!

If the thought of having oxygen pumped into you while you wear a mask at night doesn't appeal to you, then oral appliance therapy may be right for you. And you may even be able to combine the two treatments. Seek out a dental clinic that offers sleep apnea oral appliance therapy for sleep apnea to get started on the road back to a good night's sleep.