Four Reasons You Should Opt For Sleep Apnea Oral Appliance Therapy Over Other Treatments
Posted on: 20 September 2021
For people who suffer from sleep apnea, there are several treatments to choose from. The various treatments include oral appliance therapy, surgery, and positive airway pressure devices (CPAP). Before selecting any of the above options, it is advisable to research what each option entails in terms of costs, comfort, and treatment duration.
Some people prefer surgery because it provides the shortest treatment period. However, surgery is the most expensive option, and despite the short treatment period, you will encounter a lot of discomfort before you fully heal.
As a result, many doctors will recommend sleep apnea oral appliance therapy. With that said, here are four reasons why you should opt for sleep apnea oral appliance therapy over the other options.
Best Comfort Level
As mentioned earlier, when you opt for surgery, you will experience pain and discomfort during the healing period. Additionally, many people find airway pressure devices (CPAP) very uncomfortable while they sleep. The discomfort you experience with an airway pressure device may lead to a lack of sleep.
On the other hand, sleep apnea oral appliance therapy utilizes simple-to-use appliances, like the mandibular advancement device (MAD) and the tongue-retaining device (TRD). Unlike surgery and CPAP, these oral appliances cause minimal discomfort and are easier to get accustomed to wearing. As a result, you will not experience pain or lack of sleep when using sleep apnea oral appliance therapy.
Non-Invasive Treatment
If you are looking for a non-invasive sleep apnea treatment, there is no better option than sleep apnea oral appliance therapy. Whether the dentist recommends a MAD or a TRD, these appliances are custom designed to fit the dimensions of your mouth. Therefore there is no surgery required for you to use this appliance.
Costs
Typically, surgery is the most expensive sleep apnea treatment, and it will cost you between $6000 and $10,000, depending on where you get the surgery performed. On the other hand, CPAP machines can cost you over $3000, depending on their features. However, the CPAP machine also requires regular maintenance and thus, the total costs of the CPAP machine can be significantly higher than the initial purchase price.
However, if you opt for sleep apnea oral appliance therapy, you can save money on your treatment. For one, the oral appliance costs significantly less than surgery, and secondly, the appliances do not require as much maintenance as a CPAP machine.
On average, sleep apnea oral appliances will cost you between $1800 and $2000. Thus, sleep apnea oral appliance therapy is the most cost-effective form of treatment for sleep apnea.
Portability
In addition to discomfort, another reason most patients shy away from CPAP machines is their size. If you are a person who travels a lot, taking a CPAP machine with you can be a challenge. Due to its size, you might need to carry an extra small suitcase for the CPAP machine alone, making travelling a bit more cumbersome.
However, sleep apnea oral appliances are pretty small. In most cases, you can even place the oral appliances in your pocket like a cell phone. Thus, if you need to travel with your sleep apnea oral appliance, you will not experience any challenges packing it amongst your luggage.
Opting for sleep apnea oral appliance therapy ensures you get an easily portable treatment device that you can take anywhere with you.
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