Desperate for Rest? Discover the Alternatives to Treating Sleep Apnea

If you know much about sleep apnea in Weyauwega, you’re probably familiar with the CPAP machine. Although effective, its multitude of disadvantages make it an inconvenient and uncomfortable option for patients who are in desperate need of a restful night’s sleep. Fortunately, CPAP therapy isn’t the only method of treatment. If you’re looking for an alternative option to treat your sleep apnea, read on to learn more about oral appliance therapy and other viable solutions.

What is Oral Appliance Therapy?

Oral appliance therapy is designed to help sleep apnea patients achieve restful sleep while keeping their airway open. These small, compact devices look similar to a mouth guard but instead of just keeping teeth from coming into contact with each other, an oral appliance shifts the jaw forward slightly so that the facial tissues will be unable to relax, thus, preventing a blocked airway.

Recommended for individuals who have mild to moderate sleep apnea, this type of treatment is so effective that the U.S. Department of Health shared that 100% of those individuals who wear an oral appliance reported having improved daily function, and 75% were able to lower their sleep apnea by more than 50%.

What Are Some Other Treatment Methods?

There are plenty of CPAP alternatives in Weyauwega, which will make many people happy because of the difficulty in maneuvering a CPAP’s machinery. While oral appliance therapy remains the most popular and widely accepted alternative, there are other ways to find relief and get the sleep you need. Some of the other treatment methods include:

• Surgery: Your dentist can remove or reduce the tissue that is responsible for collapsing back on your throat and blocking your airway.
• Weight Management: Overweight patients who have sleep apnea can benefit from a weight loss program. If a thick neck is present, this could be the reason for the sleep apnea, as the extra tissue can create a blockage in the throat.
• Positional Therapy: If your apnea is more prevalent when sleeping on your back, positional therapy can help you change your behavior so that you sleep on your side.

Other ways to help in treating sleep apnea include reducing your alcohol consumption, avoiding smoking, and speaking to a behavioral sleep specialist.

Don’t let your sleep apnea get the best of you. If CPAP therapy isn’t working for you, talk to your dentist about the possibility of using oral appliance therapy to help you get the rest you need.

About the Author
Caring about the overall well-being of his patients, Dr. William Twohig, DDS, is dedicated to helping you overcome your sleep apnea problem. Dedicating the last 20 of his 40 years of practicing dentistry and searching for alternative methods to offer his patients, he has worked with specialists to find a way to help people get the sleep they need without the use of a CPAP machine. To find out how he can help you, visit our website or call (920) 867-3101.