Sleep apnea treatment
Sleep Apnea Treatment
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What sleep apnea treatment is right for me?

Patients with a recent diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea, OSA, are often told by their primary care physician that the use of a CPAP machine is the best way to seek effective treatment. However, CPAP machines can be bothersome for many patients, causing them to stop using the machine and experience the return of their obstructive sleep apnea symptoms. 

Fortunately, working with a dentist who provides sleep apnea treatment is the best way to learn more about alternative solutions that can work, including using an oral appliance to maintain open airways, allowing you to get a good night’s rest.

Dr. Jennifer Wahlen and the team at Wahlen Dentistry in Perry, Utah, work with patients who have received a diagnosis of OSA and are seeking alternative ways to treat their condition that don’t require the dreaded CPAP machine.

What is a CPAP machine, and how does it work?

Dr. Jennifer Wahlen describes the CPAP machine as a device used to maintain open airways. The acronym “CPAP” stands for “continuous positive airway pressure.” This device is a piece of medical equipment that is worn at night to maintain the airways. It works by taking the air, filtering and pressurizing it, then delivering it through the tube and making it into the airways.

Doing this not only keeps the air flowing and your tongue, soft palate, and uvula from shifting into the airway, but it also stabilizes breathing and improves the quality of sleep. Patients using a CPAP machine will not experience the sleep disturbances often associated with obstructive sleep apnea and snoring.

What else can I do?

Unfortunately, CPAP machines have many pitfalls. They are large, heavy, difficult to travel with, and, for many, incredibly uncomfortable to wear when they sleep. Instead, our team at Wahlen Dentistry invites patients with obstructive sleep apnea and snoring to connect with us to find out if they are appropriate candidates for an alternative solution known as oral appliance therapy.

Oral appliance therapy uses a special oral appliance designed to maintain open airways using a small mouthpiece device. This device aligns the jaw, holds the tongue down, and fits comfortably within the mouth for airway maintenance.

Are you interested in getting a restful night’s sleep?

Whether you need a treatment for snoring or a solution for obstructive sleep apnea that eliminates your CPAP machine, our team at Wahlen Dentistry can help.

Call Dr. Jennifer Wahlen and the team in Perry, Utah, at (435) 246-4602 to request an appointment today.

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