You Might Not Need A CPAP
Read About Our Devotion to Delivering Affordable Obstructive Sleep Apnea Treatments For Mild To Moderate Cases.
Have you ever heard anyone say “I can’t wait to go to sleep tonight and put on my CPAP.“? Well, we have an alternative.
So, What Is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep Apnea is a condition in which a person starts and stops breathing while they sleep. This sleep disorder causes restriction of natural breathing while sleeping due to airway muscles relaxing.
Most people don’t know they have sleep apnea. A common misconception is that if you snore, you suffer from this condition. However, snoring doesn’t necessarily mean you have sleep apnea, although it is not normal.
Common symptoms include:
Loud snoring
Headaches
Clenching and grinding
Irritability or mood swings
Gasping for air during sleep
Difficulty staying asleep
Excessive daytime sleepiness
Episodes in which you stop breathing
Frequent trips to the bathroom at night
Gaining and can’t lose the weight
Common signs include:
High blood pressure
Memory loss
Depression
Diabetes
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
Hearth Disease
“About 42 percent of deaths in people with severe sleep apnea were attributed to cardiovascular disease or stroke.”
How Do I Know If I Have Sleep Apnea?
At our office, we offer a Watch PAT At — Home sleep apnea test so you can feel completely comfortable while receiving sleep data in a quick and easy manner.
Instructions will be given to you on how to operate and set up the device. This monitor measures oxygen levels and stages of sleep throughout the night to paint a clearer picture of your sleep behavior and wellness.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
When the muscles in the back of your throat relax, snorting, choking, or gasping might occur. Your throat muscles support the soft palate, the uvula, the tonsils, the side walls of the throat, and the tongue.
When your muscles are relaxed, your airway narrows or closes as you breathe in, meaning you can't get enough air. In turn, this can lower the oxygen level in your blood. Your brain senses your inability to breathe and briefly wakes you from sleep so that you can reopen your airway.
This awakening is usually so brief that you don't remember it. This pattern can repeat itself 5 to 30 times or more each hour, all night, meaning you don’t get to reach the deep, restful phases of sleep.
What is a CPAP?
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure
A CPAP is a machine used to deliver a steady flow of oxygen to a person’s nose and mouth. The pressurized oxygen is filtered through a tube and delivers purified air to the sleeper through a mask that seals over the nose and/or mouth. This air helps to open up the sleeper’s airway and lessen the effects of sleep apnea. Without any obstruction of airflow, breathing does not pause during sleep. If you’ve never seen a CPAP, here’s what one looks like:
Nasal Pillow Mask
Is shaped like a triangle and covers your mouth and nose. This kind of mask may be prescribed if you breathe through your mouth when you sleep or if you have a nasal blockage.
Cannula
Features a small cushion that seals over your nostril area and may have prongs that fit into your nostrils. This mask allows you to wear your glasses easily. Facial hair might prevent a larger mask from fitting snugly, so this mask may be a better option for those patients.
Nasal Mask
Is a cushioned mask that covers your whole nose area and delivers a high — pressure airstream. This is a better option if you tend to move around in your sleep.
How Can An Oral Appliance Help Me Sleep?
We recommend oral sleep appliances for mild to moderate cases of sleep apnea and for severe cases who don’t want to use a CPAP.
The Mandibular Advancement Device is custom made in a lab and opens the airway to eliminate any physical blockages.
Although a CPAP remains the most effective treatment for different forms of sleep apnea, experts in the industry recommend oral sleep appliances for people who can’t tolerate a CPAP machine as an alternative treatment. And we can see why.
We welcome any questions or concerns you may have about obtaining an OSA. Consult with Dr. Vaughan and see if an oral sleep appliance is the right treatment for you.
Feel free to call our office and chat with one of our friendly receptionists about this treatment option and the steps that are involved.
“Sleep apnea can increase the chance of heart attack or death by 30% over a period of four to five years.”
Oral Sleep Appliance Benefits Over A CPAP
While a CPAP machine can offer significant progress in your sleep apnea journey, an oral sleep appliance (OSA) offers many benefits:
Quiet Unlike noisy CPAP machines, an OSA is, in essence, is a mouthguard. This means it won’t disrupt your sleep or your partner’s sleep.
Cost Effective A CPAP can often have an expensive price tag - upwards of $3,000 in some cases. For an OSA on the other hand, the price can be significantly less.
Energy Efficient OSA’s are more eco — friendly and affordable than CPAP machines because they do not require electricity. Your electric bill will thank you.
Compact It’s no secret that an OSA is smaller and more portable than a CPAP, but we are going to say it anyway. This option is great for travel and storage.
What’s Involved In The Oral Sleep Appliance Process?
We will provide you with a sleep apnea questionnaire that helps us determine your severity level and which symptoms you’re suffering from.
Based on the Rhinometer and Pharyngometer readings, we can provide you with a Watch PAT At-Home Sleep Study to gather more accurate data and inform us of the severity of your condition.
Dr. Vaughan and his staff are professional, experienced, and skilled in their positions. Our services are efficient, affordable, and thorough because we respect your time, finances, and comfortability.
Digital Scanning With our advanced scanning technology, we can create a 3D digital model of your mouth. This data is then sent to a lab and your custom sleep appliance is created. No impressions needed!
Acoustic Rhinometer By echoing sound waves up the nasal passageway and reflecting them back, this device accurately maps out the topography of the nasal airway.
Acoustic Pharyngometer This is a quick and easy way to measure a patient’s pharyngeal airway size and stability. This test is minimally invasive and takes only a few minutes to complete.
At Our Office
We understand sleep apnea can be a scary and frustrating condition to deal with. Finding the right treatment can be overwhelming, and sometimes costly. Our practice aims to create a comfortable experience while freeing our patients from financial stress and treatment anxiety.
Your health and wellness is always our top priority and we are honored that you put your trust in us. So, rest assured that we will be accommodating, professional, and responsible with your health during your visit.
Where Do I Start?
Call our office or inquire via email and ask any questions you have about about sleep apnea. We are happy to discuss our services, treatments, payment options, and any other sleep subject you’d like to address.
