If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again! That’s been the rule of thumb with many doctors when it comes to treating sleep apnea with traditional continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. But what if there’s a better way? That’s the suggestion of a new paper published in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society.
Sleep apnea is a serious disorder that affects upwards of 30 million Americans. Though it is most frequently found in overweight older men, sleep apnea can affect anyone of any age and body type. In fact, that’s part of what makes it so hard to detect. If you aren’t looking for it, you may never know it’s a problem – especially if you sleep alone.
According to the paper from a team of researchers at the Adelaide Institute for Sleep Health, doctors have been quick to prescribe CPAP therapy first when it comes to treating sleep apnea. But while CPAP can be effective if used as prescribed, there’s a big problem: Many patients don’t use CPAP as prescribed by their doctor.
The issue is multifold. For starters, many people find CPAP masks awkward and uncomfortable. Factor in things like noise, complicated machinery that is difficult to keep clean, needing electricity to operate it, and the discomfort of being tethered to a machine all night, and it’s no wonder CPAP has a bad rap.
That bad rap is why many patients seek alternative therapies to CPAP. But what if those patients started with an alternative therapy instead of going with CPAP first? That’s what the researchers are hoping might happen.
The researchers suggested that patients begin using a dental orthotic device first instead of CPAP therapy. They hope to see over time if orthotics become more comfortable for patients and thus more likely to be used as prescribed.
Orthotics have earned a golden reputation for being more comfortable than CPAP, as well as easier to clean, easier to use, and easier to travel with.
Best of all, orthotics are custom made for your individual mouth, so they fit better and don’t leave embarrassing marks on your face like CPAP masks sometimes do. With the guidance of Breathe Modern Dentistry and Dr. Martin, your custom-crafted sleep orthotic will fit gently into your mouth without damaging your bite or your teeth. While some over-the-counter “boil and bite” orthotics are available and claim to help with snoring, these can be bulky and uncomfortable. What’s more, they may not truly solve your problem since they are made only to address snoring, which is not the same thing as sleep apnea.
While success rates with sleep orthotics may vary, starting with something that is more user-friendly may have better overall results for the patient. After all, the more you use your sleep orthotic, the more effective it will be at treating your sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea poses many risks to the body, including increased complications and risks for many serious illnesses. Patients with untreated sleep apnea are more likely to have cognitive impairment, depression, anxiety, diabetes, some forms of cancer and even Alzheimer’s disease.
By treating sleep apnea, patients can reduce the risks of these illnesses while getting a good night’s sleep. Now, doesn’t that sound dreamy?
While you may have heard of many new sleep apnea treatments on the horizon, many of these new methods are still in the research stage and may not be available to all patients for years. Relying on “someday” can put your health and well-being at risk today.
If you aren’t sure if you need sleep testing, look out for some key warning signs. Common side effects of sleep apnea include daytime sluggishness, depression, waking over and over throughout the night, snoring, gasping for air, and low blood oxygen levels.
The process of getting your own sleep orthotic is easy! If you haven’t yet been officially diagnosed with sleep apnea, talk to Dr. Smith about your symptoms and concerns. Once you have a firm diagnosis, we’ll schedule a consultation to discuss your diagnosis and your sleep orthotic options. The journey to better and healthier sleep starts now!