Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, or CPAP, delivered through machines such as masks and cushions, helps management of sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is caused by blocked airways, leading to pauses and interruptions in breathing. CPAP helps relieve this problem by physically delivering air to the individual's system through oral tubes, masks and nasal pillows and similar CPAP appliances designed for the purpose. Oral appliances also include a category of tools called dental devices.
Oral appliances can prove to be a great help as they deliver air directly and continuously, thus not letting a pause occur in the breathing. Since this is the final aim of CPAP therapy, oral appliances can be considered useful in helping adaptability towards treatment and adherence and compliance.
Types of oral appliances
Oral appliances come in various forms. Fortunately, this diversity helps individuals choose the one that suits them and meets their needs in the best possible way without excess intrusion in their everyday lives.
Some individuals may suffer from consistently low breathing throughout their sleep. If they suffer from pauses in sleep, these pauses may be as long as 60 seconds each (one minute), with a frequency of as many as 20 or more such pauses within a minute. Most individuals who suffer from sleep apnea are not even aware that they have a problem. Sleep apnea is either diagnosed by someone close enough to witness the problem as it occurs, or who is disturbed by strong and loud snoring of the individual.
Dental devices are oral appliances that work through controlling jaw and tongue movements that cause blockage of the airways. When fitted by an dentist or a skilled dental professional, these control movements inside the mouth that could cause physical obstructions to the passageways, in turn leading to interrupted breathing and obstructive sleep apnea.
Mandibular: Mandibular devices are one of the common devices used to treat sleep apnea. It works by pushing the lower jaw down and forward slightly which helps keep the airway open.
Tongue: This is useful for individuals whose tongues restrict their airways. The tongue retraining device holds the tongue down to prevent it from blocking the airway.
Usually, oral appliances are not recommended for severe apneas. However, depending upon how the patient responds, CPAP can be continued with the aid of these. Usually, dental devices or oral appliances are suggested for mild to moderate forms of apneas.
Some pointers to usage
> Unlike conventional CPAP devices, oral appliances may provide a higher degree of freedom of movement to some patients.
> For some, it could help in sleeping sideways, though not lying flat on the back.
> Improvement in frequency of sleeping pauses and snoring.
> Overall improvement in quality of sleep due to continuous adherence to the treatment.
SleepVIP ( http://www.sleepvip.com ) is a coming-together of individuals with more than 60 years of healthcare experience, aiming to bring sufferers of sleep apnea closer to relief. The company is committed to making sleep apnea machines, nasal masks( http://www.sleepvip.com/nasal-masks ) and oral appliances more accessible. The Sleep VIP "Pay It Forward" charitable foundation commits a percentage of each sale to one of four charities, including the American Sleep Apnea Association, Make-a-Wish Foundation, Wounded Warrior Project, and the Susan G. Komen Race For The Cure.