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Successful Alternatives for CPAP

Many people diagnosed with sleep apnea are prescribed CPAP (Continuous Positive Air Pressure) as a remedy. It consists of a mask, hose, device for pumping air and maybe a humidifier. It is meant to be worn for 7.5 to 8 hours each night.

However, only about one quarter of people using CPAP can tolerate it and follow the directions. The other three quarters either abandon it or use it for only four or five hours each night. Upper airway surgery has been tried as a way to make CPAP more effective for these patients, but results have been insignificant.

CPAP Oral Appliances

Most sleep apnea patients are not told that there are alternatives. These oral appliances are offered by sleep apnea dentists rather than by physicians. Dr. William Adams is a highly-qualified neuromuscular and cosmetic dentist who also specializes in Dental Sleep Medicine.

He has begun working with Dr. Ira Shapira, who founded the “I hate CPAP” website. Their goal is to help those who have difficulty with CPAP, and to introduce them to the many oral appliance alternatives which might work more comfortably and effectively for them. Neither dentist actually “hates” CPAP; the site name reflects the feelings of the three-quarters of sleep apnea patients who cannot tolerate CPAP.

Studies have shown that oral appliances have far greater compliance than CPAP and are more effective. When given a choice between CPAP and an oral appliance, by far the majority of patients will choose the appliance.

In fact, the February, 2006 issue of the journal SLEEP presented oral appliances as a prime treatment on a par with CPAP when sleep apnea is mild or moderate, and as a good CPAP alternative when it is severe. Both the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine have supported these conclusions.

If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea and would like to know more about effective ways of treating it, why not check out Dr. William Adams’ informative sleep apnea website today.

For more information
call 256.878.2380

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