CPAP Intolerance & Oral Appliance Therapy

If you have been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, that means that you have trouble sleeping restfully and healthily due to a blockage of your breathing during sleep. In order to treat this particular condition, the main goal is to find a way to prevent the blockage of your airways in order to allow you to breathe properly. One of the main tools used when it comes to making this happen is a CPAP machine which is an acronym for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. This devices involves a mask that is to be worn at night while you sleep. The mask then provides lightly pressurized air through an attached hose. This flow of pressurized air acts a bit like a splint in that it is meant to keep your upper airway open in order to facilitate proper breathing.

But this method does not work for every patient. While it is often considered a go-to solution for sleep apnea, there are a number of issues that patients regularly complain about and may not actually use their CPAP machine daily because of these reasons. The problem is that it is terribly inconvenient to use.  It is bulky and difficult to travel with and requires expensive expendable accessories, nightly sanitization of equipment, special pillows, etc. The equipment can also interfere with the quality of the sleep partner’s rest. In fact, some patients may find that CPAP exacerbates certain symptoms while also leading to new ones they weren’t experiencing before treatment began. All of these are significant reasons to create non-compliance. Some of these difficulties may include an improper fitting mask or a mask that continuously falls off or shifts during sleep, uncomfortable head straps, a general feeling of claustrophobia, latex allergies, general difficulty sleeping due to the noise the CPAP machine makes, or restricted movement during sleep because of the CPAP apparatus. While this machinery has been proven to be successful with many patients, like many other treatments out there for other conditions, it may simply not be the right choice for everyone. If you have sleep apnea but have difficulty using a CPAP machine, there are other options out there that may be better suited to meet your needs in order to help you get a better night’s rest.

The South Bay Headache, TMJ & Orofacial Pain Institute provides alternative and effective treatment approaches for patients who are unable to tolerate CPAP devices.

Signs of CPAP intolerance

• Nasal congestion
• Skin, eye, or sinus irritations
• Bloating
• Anxiety
• Claustrophobia
• Headaches
• Dry mouth
• Continued drowsiness

Fortunately, OSA and snoring are treatable! CPAP isn’t the only treatment option for patients who struggle with OSA and snoring. Intra-oral devices have been shown to be effective for sleep apnea, snoring and are better tolerated. With revolutionary oral appliance therapy, our patients from South Bay and beyond have an alternative to overcoming obstruction, side effects and getting the full night of restful sleep, better general health and improved quality of life they deserve.

Oral Appliance Therapy – A Predictable Alternative to CPAP

Oral appliance therapy is a non-invasive, simple, comfortable method for treatment and leads to better compliance. This translates into a happier, healthier you! An oral appliance, also called mandibular advancement device, is a small acrylic appliance that fits over the upper and lower teeth (similar to an orthodontic retainer or night guard). This device slightly advances the lower jaw, moving the base of the tongue forward and opening the airway. This improves breathing and reduces snoring and sleep apnea. The appliance is fabricated and must be highly customized for each patient’ individual needs. The appliances are comfortable and well tolerated by most patients. They are easy to place and remove, easy to clean and, and are very convenient for travel.

CPAP vs Oral Appliances

Dr. Paul Grin at South Bay Headache, TMJ & Orofacial Pain Institute, Center for Dental Sleep Medicine and CPAP Intolerance has the advanced skills and expertise to evaluate, fit and follow – up you with a FDA approved medical, custom oral dental appliance. Once the device has been adjusted the patient returns for a follow-up home sleep study to determine the actual change in oxygen saturation and efficacy of the appliance.

Don’t Ignore That Snore Anymore

Sleep disorders such as snoring and sleep apnea can increase the risk of hypertension, heart disease and strokes. It can also lead to serious illness and major accidents. Sleep apnea sufferers are over 300% more liable to be involved in a fatal car crash.

If you think that you or a loved one may have a sleep disorder, it’s important not to ignore it. Sometimes snoring and other symptoms can be a sign of something much more serious.

Why Choose The South Bay Headache, TMJ & Orofacial Pain Institute?

Our Dental Sleep Medicine Department is accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), the gold standard by which the services provided by an institute are evaluated. Dr. Paul Grin and staff follow stringent standards established by the AASM to provide the best care for those with sleep-related problems or disorders.

Our licensed, registered, highly-trained and dedicated dental medicine sleep team works hard to provide individualized care of each of our patients. We want everyone who comes to us to experience a better quality of sleep each night in order to greatly improve their overall health.

Our core values of excellent service, quality, teamwork, professionalism and patient advocacy are woven in to each and every part of your treatment with us. We firmly believe that understanding and compassion for our patients is key to proper diagnosis and treatment.

Increase Your Quality of Life Today

Call us at (310) 933-3077 to learn about other sleep disorder treatment options.