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Oral Appliance Therapy for Snoring and Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea appliances are another way your sleep apnea dentist can help you sleep soundly. Worn while you sleep, oral appliances like CPAP masks can hold your mouth and jaw in such a way that makes breathing easier and will stop snoring. A sleep apnea oral appliance fits into your mouth like a mouth guard, night guard or orthodontic retainer.

Oral appliance therapy is a popular alternative to CPAP treatment. There are many options, and your dentist can help you choose which sleep apnea appliance will be best for your obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

One sleep apnea remedy is the mandibular advancement system (MAS), also known as a mandibular advancement device (MAD). This oral splint is a dental appliance that moves the lower jaw slightly forward, which can effectively treat sleep apnea and also provide snoring prevention.

There are many other types of sleep apnea equipment. Generally, oral appliances for snoring and sleep apnea are made of soft plastic or hard acrylic. Some incorporate wires or rubber bands to provide the right sort of pressure. Almost all of them require a prescription and a professional fitting by your dental sleep medicine dentist or sleep apnea physician. If a dental appliance doesn't fit properly, it can lead to orthodontic problems and trouble breathing.

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CPAP Machines Let Sleep Apnea Patients Breathe Easier

CPAP machines provide continuous positive airway pressure during sleep to help sleep apnea patients breathe more easily. The pressurized air reaches the patient through a sleep mask that provides air all night long.

There are other breathing machines besides the CPAP machine. They tend to be more expensive than CPAP therapy, but some people find CPAP masks uncomfortable and find other treatments more effective.

A VPAP machine offers variable positive airway pressure, and a BiPAP machine is a bilevel positive airway pressure machine. In these, the pressure is different when inhaling than when exhaling. For some people, a VPAP mask or BiPAP mask can be more comfortable and make breathing feel more natural.

An APAP machine gives automatic positive airway pressure (also known as auto-titrating continuous positive airway pressure) through an APAP mask. This machine has sensors that monitor the patient's breathing, providing extra air when needed.

CPAP machines are one of the snoring aids that are often covered by insurance. However, insurance companies are less likely to cover treatment with APAP or VPAP. Most patients start with CPAP treatment, trying other machines only if they are not satisfied with CPAP therapy.

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.