When it comes to different sleep apnea treatments, it may be overwhelming to decide which is the best option for you. There are many sleep apnea treatment options available, so in today's blog we are going to compare CPAP versus oral appliances versus airway surgery, what each option is, and how they are similar and different from one another.
CPAP Treatments
- A continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine is the device used in CPAP therapy to help treat symptoms of sleep apnea. The machine takes in air from the room, pressurizes it, and continuously delivers the pressurized air through a mask to the CPAP user. CPAP therapy can be used to treat both obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and central sleep apnea (CSA).
- CPAP therapy is the most common and most effective form of treatment for sleep apnea, and it can improve the quality of sleep and lowers the risk of developing chronic diseases. Some individuals who have tried to use CPAP therapy as a form of treatment for sleep apnea have found that it is too loud and that it takes time to adjust to the CPAP machine. If patients cannot tolerate the CPAP machine, they may look for other treatment options, like oral appliances or airway surgery.
Oral Appliances
- Oral appliances are becoming more and more popular to help manage symptoms of sleep apnea. These oral appliances are also sometimes called mandibular advancement devices (MADs). Oral appliances are mouthguards that are custom-made to fit each patient, the mouthguards are worn at night while the patient is asleep, and it helps to reposition the jaw to help keep the airway and throat open while asleep.
- The benefits of using oral appliances to help manage sleep apnea symptoms include ease of use, portability and compactness for more convenient travel, noise-free, easy to clean and maintain, and a cost-effective option! Some individuals may not like this option as it may be less effective in treating sleep apnea symptoms compared to other treatment options and some experience TMJ pain.
Airway Surgery
- Airway surgery is another option for treating sleep apnea. Most of the time airway surgery isn’t recommended until other treatment options have been tried by the patient. Airway surgery is an operation done to help widen the airway behind the tongue by removing excess tissue surrounding the airway.
- This will help reduce snoring and can potentially be effective in reducing other sleep apnea symptoms. Some risks to airway surgery include a change of voice and difficulty swallowing liquids.
If you have recently been diagnosed with sleep apnea, it is important to understand all treatment options. Ultimately, you and your doctor will be able to come up with the best solution and pick a treatment that is most suitable for you. If you have any questions about the different sleep apnea treatments or are interested in learning more about our sleep apnea treatment options, please visit our website or contact us today for more information!