Patients Seeking Alternatives to CPAP
Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder wherein your body stops and restarts breathing repeatedly throughout the night. This condition affects about 22 million Americans and can impact the quality of your sleep as well as damage your physical and mental wellbeing.
Those who have been diagnosed with sleep apnea are often prescribed CPAP but patients tend to stop using their CPAP machine because it’s loud, uncomfortable, and requires you to sleep on your back all night long. If you’re suffering from sleep apnea, you want a treatment that doesn’t restrict the way you live. Fortunately, at Southern Utah Sleep & TMJ Center, Dr. White offers oral appliance therapy as an alternative to CPAP.
Sleep Apnea & Snoring
Snoring is a condition that can be caused by a variety of factors and it’s a major symptom of sleep apnea. Heavy snoring can disrupt your partner’s sleep, causing tension in a relationship.
If you snore, there’s a good chance you’re also suffering from sleep apnea. That’s why it’s essential to find the exact cause of your snoring. If Dr. White discovers signs of sleep apnea, he’ll provide you with an easy-to-use sleep test that you can take at home.
Once you receive your diagnosis, you’ll be provided with a prescription for sleep apnea care. Then Dr. White will help you find the treatment that works best for you. Sleep apnea and snoring can both be treated with oral appliance therapy.
How Sleep Apnea Impacts Your Health
Sleep is an essential aspect of your life. It’s recommended that everyone get between seven and nine hours of sleep each night to maintain your health. This makes it possible to efficiently carry out your daily functions. However, when someone’s experiencing sleep apnea symptoms, they’re often getting a lot less sleep than they need.
Untreated sleep apnea can lead to serious physical and mental health problems. Some of these conditions include diabetes, high blood pressure, anxiety, and depression. Seeking treatment will help you gain a better night’s sleep and dramatically improve your health.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are my options for sleep apnea treatment?
Typically, the first treatment recommended for sleep apnea is a CPAP machine. The machine delivers a steady stream of air into your lungs overnight to help you breathe. While it’s effective for some patients, many others stop using CPAP due to the uncomfortable mask and loud noise made by the machine.
As a less-invasive alternative, Dr. White offers oral appliance therapy to relieve snoring and sleep apnea. These convenient devices are small, comfortable, portable, and allow you to sleep in any position you like. When combined with healthy lifestyle choices like a nutritious diet and regular exercise, an oral appliance can help you manage sleep apnea symptoms and get the rest you need.
How do I decide which sleep apnea treatment is right for me?
Once you’re diagnosed with sleep apnea, our Cedar City sleep dentist will work with you to determine the best treatment plan for your needs. During your consultation, he’ll get to know you and listen to your symptoms, in addition to answering any questions you have about your treatment options.
For many of our patients, we recommend oral appliance therapy as a comfortable and convenient alternative to CPAP. These devices offer several unique benefits that other treatments can’t, making them an especially popular option.
Alternative Sleep Apnea Care with Dr. White
If you’re looking to treat your sleep apnea but don’t find CPAP machines comfortable or convenient, give us a call at (435) 267-0486 or fill out the form at the bottom of this page to learn more about alternative options with Dr. White. We will be happy to provide you with a free consultation to answer any questions and get you started on the path to high-quality sleep.