If you have sleep apnea, you’ll find the two most commonly prescribed ways to treat it are a CPAP machine or a sleep apnea appliance. Both will help you breathe more easily throughout the night and improve both the quality of your rest and your overall health. However, there are several good reasons you may want to use a sleep apnea appliance instead of a CPAP. 

Many of our patients choose an appliance because it is:

  • Comfortable – Both a CPAP and an appliance work by keeping your airway open all night. The CPAP clears your airway with a constant stream of air that can leave your mouth and/or throat feeling dry. In contrast, the appliance just gently moves your jaw into a position that keeps the airway open.
  • Simple to Use – You won’t need anything other than your appliance itself to use it. With a CPAP, you’ll need electricity or batteries to keep it running and distilled water to help keep the air pressure properly adjusted. 
  • Easy to Transport – An appliance looks a lot like a sports mouthguard and is roughly the same size. So it can be easily tucked into a pocket or purse and be taken along with you wherever you go. 
  • Not Distracting to You or Others – Both you and your bed partner may be distracted by a CPAP’s mask and tubing. And while a CPAP isn’t necessarily noisy, it does make some noise – which may bother light sleepers. The appliance fits in your mouth and isn’t likely to bother you or your partner. 
  • Safe – CPAPs are generally safe. Still, like any piece of machinery, there are sometimes product recalls like the one Philips recently issued for some of its CPAPs. The FDA advises users of the affected devices to consult with their health care provider. The FDA also mentions instead using alternative treatments, “including positional therapy or oral appliances, which fit like a sports mouthguard or an orthodontic retainer.”

To see if you might benefit from a sleep apnea appliance, call Advanced Dentistry in Middlesex, NJ at 732-506-2876 today.