CPAP Alternatives – Plano, TX
Get a Good Night’s Sleep Without CPAP
For many years, continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP, was considered the gold standard for treating sleep apnea. A CPAP machine delivers constant air pressure that keeps a person’s airway open. If used consistently, CPAP therapy works. However, that consistency is not always guaranteed because patients often find their CPAP machine uncomfortable or claustrophobic. Some also say CPAP causes a dry nose and throat, skin irritation, and nasal troubles.
Nevertheless, treating sleep apnea is imperative. Sleep apnea is a chronic medical condition that temporarily halts breathing when your airway becomes blocked by your tongue and/or the tissues in your throat. Each sleep apnea episode can last anywhere from a few seconds to a full minute. And although you may have no recollection of a single episode, sufferers are known to have dozens each night. The cumulative effect results in a whole host of troubles including daytime sleepiness, morning headaches, dry mouth and throat, lack of concentration, and memory problems.
In addition, sleep apnea is proven to be connected to several general medical conditions. One of the most notable examples is hypertension. The temporary halt to breathing causes your heart to work harder to pump blood and oxygen to vital organs, leading to high blood pressure. Along with the development of hypertension comes the threat of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke.
Why Choose Sleep Rehab for CPAP Alternatives?
- Fully Customized Oral Appliances
- High-Quality, Biocompatible Materials
- Dentist with More Than 20 Years of Experience
Oral Appliance Therapy for Sleep Apnea
Fortunately, there are viable CPAP alternatives in Plano, TX. Said alternatives are our specialty at Sleep Rehab. We treat obstructive sleep apnea—which happens when the airway becomes blocked—with oral appliance therapy. Unlike cumbersome CPAP masks, our oral appliances are easy to wear every night so sleep apnea sufferers can commit to their treatment.
Oral appliances for sleep apnea are shaped much like an athletic mouthguard. By moving the lower jaw forward, and thereby holding the tongue forward, these appliances prevent the airway from collapsing during sleep.
Sleep Rehab is proud to offer oral appliance therapy. Made of strong and durable polymer material that is completely biocompatible, oral appliances are metal-free, flexible, and extremely lightweight. Each device is adjustable and comes with a three-year warranty.
Learn More About Oral Appliance Therapy
Caring for Your Oral Appliance
To extend the life of your oral appliance, Dr. Fedosky has specific recommendations for cleaning and storage.
Just as you brush your teeth in the morning, you should also clean your oral appliance. First, remove the appliance from your mouth and rinse in lukewarm water—never use hot water as this can eventually cause an oral appliance to warp. Then, gently brush the appliance with a soft toothbrush (but not the one that you use to brush your teeth). Don’t use toothpaste, as it has small abrasive particles that can scratch the smooth surface of the device. Be sure to clean each surface. Rinse again with warm water and then dry the appliance with a towel. Always put the device away in its storage box and in a place where children and pets cannot reach it.