Arden dentist offers an alternative to the CPAP machine for sleep apnea

An estimated 22 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea, with as many as 80 percent of the moderate to severe cases left undiagnosed. Located in Arden, Dr. Christopher Port of Family Dental Health of South Asheville offers an oral appliance as a treatment alternative to the CPAP machine for patients with sleep apnea.

What is sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea is a disorder in which a person repeatedly stops breathing while sleeping. The pauses can happen multiple times per hour. There is typically a snort or choking sound as the person catches his or her breath.

Treatment options

There are several treatments available for patients with sleep apnea. The severity of a patient’s condition may dictate the treatment used. For patients with obstructive sleep apnea, doctors may recommend continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). CPAP therapy uses a machine to help a person breathe while sleeping. This machine increases air pressure in the throat to prevent the airway from collapsing while breathing. CPAP machines use one of the following to help patients breathe:

• A mask over the nose and mouth
• A nose only mask
• Prongs that fit the nose

Oral appliances

At Family Dental Health of South Asheville, we offer oral appliances as an alternative to bulky CPAP machines. Oral appliances are custom created for each patient and are effectively used to treat sleep apnea among other oral issues. An oral appliance fits like a mouth guard pushing the jaw forward to keep the airway open. Advantages of oral appliances over CPAP machines include:

• Patient comfort
• No bulky machine
• No mask
• Quiet
• Easy to care for
• Portable

If you suffer from sleep apnea, contact our office to learn more about oral appliance therapy. Schedule your appointment with Dr. Christopher Port at Family Dental Health of South Asheville today. You belong here.