Standard CPAP equipment includes a mask you wear on your face while you sleep and a machine on your nightstand or on a table by your bed. The main difficulty many experience with CPAP equipment is the nuisance of the mask: it can be uncomfortable and challenging to get a good fit.

Other problems people experience are:

  • CPAP can cause dryness of the nasal passages and throat.
  • Claustrophobic feelings can make it difficult to sleep. 
  • CPAP is difficult to pack when traveling.
  • Maintenance can be difficult and time-consuming.
  • Failure to properly maintain CPAP can lead to infections.
  • Parts of the equipment, such as filters, tubing, chin straps, and mouthpieces, must be replaced regularly, which adds an expense to your monthly budget.

Because of these problems, only about half of sleep apnea patients prescribed CPAP are compliant with the usage guidelines. To be compliant, a person must use their CPAP for at least four hours a night on 70% of nights, or only about 35% of the time an average person might want to sleep. This means that at least half of the people prescribed CPAP still have untreated sleep apnea, and even those who are technically compliant may not see the benefits of the treatment.

Oral Appliance Therapy

Oral appliance therapy is a leading alternative to CPAP within the field of dental sleep medicine. Although oral appliances can’t treat central sleep apnea, they are as effective as CPAP for obstructive sleep apnea. These custom-fitted devices typically work by repositioning the jaw to help open the airway, preventing it from collapsing during sleep.

As a front-line treatment for mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea, oral appliances also serve as a secondary option for severe cases when individuals can’t adapt to CPAP. For those with severe sleep apnea, adjunctive therapies, such as lifestyle modifications, are also recommended.

Oral appliances are easy to use, comfortable, and require little daily maintenance; simply rinse and let air dry. Because they are durable and can last a long time, they often prove to be more cost-effective than CPAP machines.

How to Get Oral Appliance Therapy

If you worked with a sleep doctor, you may not have been offered the option of oral appliance therapy. To explore this treatment option, you must find a sleep apnea dentist specializing in dental sleep medicine. You can ask friends who have tried oral appliance therapy for recommendations.

If you don’t know anyone with an oral appliance, you can check out the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine (AADSM) website to see if a sleep apnea dentist is nearby. Dr. Nehawandian is a member of the AADSM. 

If you have already been diagnosed with sleep apnea, your sleep apnea dentist can fit you with a custom dental appliance. The custom fit is essential to ensure that the appliance opens your airway properly without causing jaw soreness. 

If you only suspect sleep apnea, a dentist can get you a sleep test to diagnose the condition.

Other CPAP Alternatives That Can Put You To Sleep

If you have found that CPAP equipment is not for you and aren’t eager to try oral appliance therapy, these alternatives might help. 

Other Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) Devices

BiPAP, bi-level positive airway pressure, and VPAP, an even more sophisticated device, differ slightly from the traditional CPAP machine. For some people, these crucial differences can lead to a more restful sleep. 

Positional Therapy

Many sleep apnea patients have what is called positional sleep apnea. If you’re one of them, your symptoms occur more frequently when lying on your back. Specialty products such as body belts, cushions, and body pillows have been designed to encourage you to sleep on your side. This treatment is excellent as an adjunctive therapy but rarely works as a standalone treatment.

Lifestyle Modification

Another way to try to treat sleep apnea without a CPAP mask is to use lifestyle modification. There are many ways to change your lifestyle to reduce the impact of sleep apnea, including:

  • Getting more exercise
  • Losing weight
  • Avoiding alcohol at night
  • Quitting smoking
  • Reducing allergens in your environment

For most people with clinically significant sleep apnea, it’s unlikely that lifestyle changes will effectively treat your sleep apnea alone, but as adjunctive therapy, they can help you get better results from your CPAP or oral appliance therapy. 

Surgery

If you have severe sleep apnea and you’ve tried PAP treatment without success, surgery might be a choice you want to consider. The two most common surgical procedures for obstructive sleep apnea treatment are Maxillomandibular advancement and Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty.

Surgery is a serious undertaking. To be sure surgery is the right option for you, you need to be fully aware of every aspect of the procedure and recovery time. Dr. Nancy Nehawandian of Top Down Dental in San Jose/Los Gatos will ensure you are well-informed, comfortable, and confident if she deems surgery a treatment that will work for you.

Find The Right CPAP Alternatives in San Jose

Sleep apnea is a complex condition with a wide variety of treatments. Certified in sleep apnea and snoring devices and therapy, Los Gatos sleep apnea dentist Dr. Nancy Nehawandian, has the skills, training, knowledge, and dedication to excellence to help you find the best solution to your sleep apnea or snoring problems. To get your CPAP alternative, call us at (408) 354-5600 or use our online contact form to book an appointment.