Sleep Apnea Treatment
While learning that you have sleep apnea can be overwhelming or even scary, there are comfortable solutions for you or your family members. While some sleep apnea treatment centers recommend CPAP machines first, our office recommends custom-made oral appliances as a comfortable alternative.
To be fitted for your custom appliance and start sleeping better, reach out to make a consultation with Dr. Lesko.
Treatment Starts with a Diagnosis
Diagnosis for sleep apnea helps us see if you have sleep apnea, and how severe it is. Depending on severity, we may recommend different therapies and treatment approaches. However, our sleep apnea diagnosis doesn’t require an uncomfortable night at the sleep center. We can send you home with an at-home sleep apnea test.
Sleep Apnea Home Test
Our sleep apnea home test is comfortable and completed over at least one night of sleep. You won’t have to go to a sleep center to learn if you have sleep apnea! Dr. Lesko can give you an at-home sleep test after an assessment and consultation.
But once you have taken the test and learned you have sleep apnea, what solutions are there?
Mouth Guard for Sleep Apnea
Mouth guards are a simple solution for sleep apnea that sit over your teeth and in the back of your mouth to keep your airway open. They are soft, comfortable, and custom-made, so you can sleep without interruptions. They can also help with snoring and TMJ concerns since they position your jaw correctly while you sleep.
Oral appliances are most appropriate for mild to moderate sleep apnea and can be paired with lifestyle modifications, medications, position therapy, and myofunctional care.
CPAP Alternatives
Oral appliances or mouth guards for sleep apnea can be CPAP alternatives, or in some cases, they can be used together. Let’s compare some of the ways oral appliances can help you with a better night’s sleep:
- Convenience | CPAP machines require that you bring distilled water and a bulky machine with you wherever you try to sleep, but an oral appliance can fit easily into any bag or purse.
- Effectiveness | CPAP can be effective, but leads to other discomfort during your sleep, while mouth guards are discreet, making them potentially much more effective since they don’t disrupt your sleep.
- Comfort | You can sleep easily in any position with oral appliances, and don’t have to worry about cords or anything over your nose or mouth. It just feels like a retainer.
- Versatility | You can pair oral appliances with other kinds of treatment and therapy, or even with a CPAP machine. CPAP machines can make it so you have to sleep on your back.
- Easy Replacement | If your mouth guard for sleep apnea gets worn out, you can come in and get impressions done for a new one quickly. CPAP machines can be costly and may not be covered by insurance, so replacement or repairs can be inconvenient.
We value the versatility that our mouth guards provide our patients, which is why we offer them in the Fort Collins area.
The Sleep Apnea Treatment Process
Once you have taken an at-home sleep test, we can determine how best to help you. There are several options for treatment, and we may try a combination or just one and see how effective it is before adding more to your treatment plan.
Dr. Lesko will spend time during your consultation talking about your options and will collaborate with you on a solution. We know you are investing your time and money into care, so we want to provide you with the most effective option possible.
If we decide to try out an oral appliance, we will custom-make an appliance, using impressions of your teeth and precise measurements of your airway. You will try it for at least a week before coming back to discuss how things are working. During this time, we may ask you to stop using your CPAP machine if you have been using one, and use the mouth guard as a CPAP alternative.
Instead of an oral appliance, we may recommend lifestyle changes, such as how you sleep or adjusting alcohol consumption. If we see major improvements, you may not need an appliance.
In cases of severe sleep apnea, we can couple an oral appliance with a CPAP machine for the relief you need.
Go CPAP-Free with Our Oral Appliances
Our office is conveniently located in the Fort Collins area, offering quality CPAP alternatives for sleep apnea treatment. Call our office to find a more comfortable solution with a mouth guard for sleep apnea.
