Types of Home Sleep Studies and Treatments
Oral Appliance Therapy, PAP Machines and Surgery
Oral Appliance Therapy, PAP Machines and Surgery
the gold standard for mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea
Getting tested: Options are “an at home sleep test. Small monitor you wear in the comfort of your home” or if better suits you a sleep lab/clinic. Our preferred sleep testing method is in the comfort of your home, your bed.
Oral appliance therapy for the treatment of sleep apnea continues to increase in popularity as awareness grows amongst the public that oral appliances are an effective treatment for many sleep apnea sufferers. There are many oral appliances that are FDA approved for the treatment of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). These appliances are worn in the mouth, just like a sports mouth guard or an orthodontic appliance, while you sleep. Oral appliances hold the lower jaw forward just enough to keep the airway open and prevent the tongue and muscles in the upper airway from collapsing and blocking the airway.
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“The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) has approved Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT) as a first line treatment for patients diagnosed with mild to moderate OSA. The AASM also recommends oral appliances for patients with severe OSA, who are unable to tolerate or cannot wear Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) devices. Another option for people with severe OSA is Combination Therapy (wearing CPAP and an oral appliance together) to help reduce the pressure on a CPAP machine, making it more comfortable to use.”
An oral appliance is the gold standard for mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea, and for those patients that have severe sleep apnea and cannot tolerate CPAP therapy because of claustrophobia or the restrictive nature of the CPAP mask. The appliance fits in your mouth much like a mouth guard or retainer. This will prevent the collapse of the tongue and soft tissues in the back of your throat. The appliance provides adjustable levels of lower jaw advancement, improving the comfort and effectiveness of treatment.
Is Oral Appliance Therapy a Medical Service?
Yes. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has classified oral appliances as Class II medical devices, and many insurances include coverage for this therapy under their medical plans. Also, the criteria developed by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) define obstructive sleep apnea as a medical condition that can be treated by dental professionals who have advanced training in dental sleep medicine. Patients are treated with an oral appliance after a sleep study establishes a diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea.
What are the indications for Oral Appliance Therapy?
An oral appliance may be recommended to treat snoring, or as an option for patients with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea. It may be an effective alternative for patients who cannot use CPAP (Continuous Positive Airways Pressured) equipment.
Yes, most Medical Appliances for Obstructive Sleep Apnea are covered by Medical Insurance.
At Home Sleep Solutions, LLC will contact your medical insurance and we will inform you of the coverage.
We will make every effort to see that your insurance will provide you with the appropriate treatment.
Remember…. Oral appliances can make a huge difference in your life.
Contact Dr. Doblin’s office today for more information.
Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) Therapy
If you’ve been diagnosed with sleep apnea, CPAP therapy can help you regain the sleep you deserve. CPAP devices have made incredible advancements over the years, with modern equipment providing you a comfortable, unobtrusive, quiet way to sleep more soundly—waking refreshed, energized, and ready to take on the day.
Also known as PAP therapy, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy provides you with pressurized ambient air delivered through a tubing and mask delivery system. When in place, this delivery system helps to eliminate apnea events during sleep. As the most effective treatment for sleep apnea, CPAP therapy can potentially improve your overnight sleep, and dramatically impact your overall quality of life.
Two of the most common symptoms of sleep apnea are feeling sleepy and fatigued. These symptoms can have a direct impact on your alertness. By helping you return to a normal sleep pattern and improving your breathing while sleeping, CPAP therapy helps you wake up feeling refreshed and alert—a feeling that will continue throughout your day.
A lack of sleep can impact your decision making and ability to concentrate. This can impact everything you do in both your personal and professional life. With CPAP therapy, you’re better able to get the normal, restful sleep you need, resulting in an increased ability to concentrate and make smart decisions.
Snoring doesn’t just impact your sleep, it can also impact those trying to sleep near you. CPAP therapy not only helps to keep your airways open while you are sleeping, it also reduces or eliminates the sound of your snoring. While you may not notice, you bed partner will benefit from a quieter sleep environment.
If you’re living with sleep apnea, everything from your decision making skills at work, to your ability to safely drive your vehicle can be affected. CPAP therapy is the best solution for treating sleep apnea, and can help you get the restful sleep you deserve to regain control of your life.
CPAP Vs. APAP Vs. BiPAP
The 3 types of PAP machines are CPAP, APAP, and BiPAP, and they work by gently blowing pressurized air through the airway to give the minimum amount of pressure to keep the throat open.
An auto-adjustable positive airway pressure (APAP) machine is best known for its ability to offer different pressure rates throughout your sleep, based on how you inhale.
It works on a range of 4 to 20 pressure points, which can offer flexibility to help you find your ideal pressure range.
APAP machines work best if you need additional pressure based on deeper sleep cycles, the use of sedatives, or sleep positions that further disrupt airflow, such as sleeping on your stomach.
The continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) unit is the most prescribed machine for sleep apnea.
As the name suggests, CPAP works by delivering a steady pressure rate for both inhalation and exhalation. Unlike APAP, which adjusts the pressure based on your inhalation, CPAP delivers one rate of pressure throughout the night.
While the continuous rate of pressure can help, this method can lead to breathing discomfort.
Sometimes the pressure may still be delivered while you’re trying to exhale, making you feel like you’re choking. One way to remedy this is to turn down the pressure rate.
The same pressure in and out doesn’t work for all sleep apnea cases. This is where a bi-level positive airway pressure (BiPAP) machine can help. BiPAP works by delivering different pressure rates for inhalation and exhalation.
BiPAP machines have similar low range pressure zones as APAP and CPAP, but they offer a higher peak pressure flow of 25. Thus, this machine is best if you need moderate- to high-pressure ranges. BiPAP tends to be recommended for sleep apnea as well as Parkinson’s disease and ALS.
APAP, CPAP, and BiPAP are all types of flow generators that may be prescribed for the treatment of sleep apnea. Each has similar goals, but an APAP or BiPAP may be used if the common CPAP machine doesn’t work.
Aside from positive airway pressure therapy, it’s important to follow your doctor’s advice on any recommended lifestyle changes. Sleep apnea can be life threatening, so treating it now can greatly improve your outlook while also improving your overall quality of life.