If you have been struggling with sleep apnea for a while now, then you undeniably understand that this sleep disorder can affect the overall quality of your day. It disrupts your rest, depriving your body of needed oxygen, and if it is left untreated, it can also increase the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, as well as stroke. But, even without such risks, it definitely causes daytime fatigue that affects the overall quality of your life. Here is more on what it is.
Now, as you probably already know, the standard for these types of patients has often been the Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy, which consists of wearing a mask and machine every night while sleeping. This, however, is often not that well tolerated by everyone. So, if you are looking for an alternative type of treatment, then you may undeniably want to look into, well, Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT), as it can be the more comfortable alternative that you are after.
The fact that you are here tells me that you have heard about this option already. But, before you decide whether you want to use this option to your advantage, you want to get a better idea about what it is. And then, should you decide to go for it, you want to know how to do it right. Those are all, without a doubt, rather important questions right there, and we are now going to answer them for you below.
What Is Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT)?
Clearly, we are going to begin with the very basics here and first discuss the question of what oral appliance therapy actually is. To cut right to the chase, we are talking about a non-invasive treatment designed for sleep apnea that consists of using custom-fitted dental devices that are worn during sleep in order to help keep the airway open. The devices look just like dental retainers or mouth guards, but they are designed to reposition your tongue or your jaw in a way that will prevent airway obstruction, thus reducing apneas, as well as hypopneas.
Read even more about these appliances: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/21129-oral-appliance-therapy-for-sleep-apnea
Now, how do these devices work? Well, as mentioned, the goal is for them to reposition the key components of your jaw and your tongue to maintain an open airway. They advance the lower jaw forwards, thus increasing the space behind the tongue and the throat, consequently reducing the severity, as well as the frequency, of blocked breathing episodes. These are, as it is clear, quieter than CPAP machines, as well as more portable, easier to wear, and less intrusive.
Should You Get It?
Okay, now that you understand what oral appliance therapy for sleep apnea really is, what you want to do next is figure out whether you actually want to use it to your advantage. And, well, for starters, let me say that this can be especially helpful for people who have mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea, as well as those that cannot tolerate CPAP therapy, and who prefer a non-machine solution. Furthermore, it can be rather useful for people who need a portable option when traveling. On top of that, it is also a good option for people who experience significant snoring but don’t require CPAP.
To actually decide whether you want to use this option to your advantage or not, you will absolutely want to, well, take your time to understand the benefits that come with it. And, well, there are quite a lot of those. From comfort and convenience, given that these are far easier to use than the mask and the hose system, to quiet and unobtrusive use, since these make no noise and need no electricity, which also makes them perfectly portable for your travels. Apart from that, they are also quite easy to care for and maintain. In short, they are an easier and more convenient way of improving your sleep quality.
How to Get a Good Option for You?
If you have thought about it and decided to give these devices a chance, you will now want to know how to get the right solution for you. And, well, the most important thing to understand here is that you will have to find and choose the right provider. So, your task is to explore Alterna Sleep and other providers in more details when you come across them, aiming at making a smart choice. A choice that will be perfect for you.
So, start by checking their experience level, as well as their reputation, by reading reviews written by people who have previously tried their particular devices. Then, check out the devices in more details and assess their quality, while also comparing the prices. In the end, have a custom fitting and get the oral appliance that will be tailored to your mouth, after which you should give yourself some time to adapt to it and go for follow-up visits to fine-tune the fit if necessary.
