Sleep apnea isn’t something a person should really leave untreated. One of the main recommendations for people with sleep apnea is that they start to use a CPAP machine. However, as many as half of the people prescribed these machines don’t like them or can’t tolerate them, leaving them looking for other alternatives. One of the CPAP alternatives in Boyertown PA is to visit the dentist for a specialized mouth guard-type device.
Mandibular adjustment devices are like mouth guards, but they’re designed to help keep the airway open at night to minimize sleep apnea symptoms. They do this by helping to keep the tongue forward and lowering the bottom jaw slightly. They’re a lot less obtrusive and more comfortable than a sleep apnea machine. They simply need to be cleaned regularly and don’t require any special maintenance like a CPAP machine. They also don’t make any noise and won’t disturb a partner during the night. Although they aren’t always covered by insurance, they’re a lot less expensive than a purchasing and using a CPAP machine and a lot less bother. There isn’t the need to go to numerous sleep studies in order to keep insurance coverage for the device as there is sometimes with CPAP machines, making these mouth guards a more worry-free alternative for limiting the symptoms of sleep apnea.
While these CPAP alternatives in Boyertown PA won’t work for everyone, they’re definitely worth a try if CPAP isn’t working for you. Don’t bother with the over-the-counter options, as these are less likely to be effective. A visit to a dentist’s office will help determine which of the various types of devices would work best in your situation. Then the dentist will usually make a mold of the teeth so that a device can be custom made to fit the mouth. All that’s required is that you wear the device when you go to sleep. Some devices require rubber bands to keep everything in alignment, but others do not.
Contact us to find out more about the various dental appliances that can be used to help with snoring and sleep apnea.
