CPAP Alternatives West Kelowna

Do you snore? Does your partner snore? If you suffer from snoring you may find that you are waking up each day feeling tired and listless, unprepared to start the day ahead.

If your partner is snoring you may wake up feeling exactly the same way. Snoring also may be a sign you have sleep apnea , a potentially deadly condition where you stop breathing at night. Snoring/sleep apnea disrupts your ability to sleep deeply and completely, and it makes no difference whether the snoring is happening to you or to someone that you are close to. Either way, you are unable to get the sleep that is so important for physical and mental health.

Fortunately there are snoring /sleep apnea solutions. By finding the ideal solution you can alleviate the snoring that is causing so many problems. The first thing that you have to do is to find out the cause of the snoring so that you can address it properly.

Would you like to stop snoring but you are CPAP intollerant?

There are a number of reasons that snoring is a problem. If you or someone that is close to you is suffering from snoring, you must first find out what is causing the problem. You may find that you are snoring due to an obstruction that is caused by the way that you jaw is formed and the way that your teeth fit in your mouth.

This is typically the case in sleep apnea. If you have already been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea and have tried the CPAP (continuous positive air pressure) device but are intolerant, your dentist may have the answer for you!

If you have sleep apnea, treating it not only can help you sleep better and feel better but could possibly save you from a heart attack, stroke or other serious medical conditions.

There are solutions to your sleep issues. ASK ME… how I can help you.

CPAP stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. Historically, CPAP has typically been considered “the solution” by health care professionals.

Traditionally, if you suffered from sleep apnea, the immediate and usually only prescription has been a CPAP machine. If you suffer from sleep apnea, there’s a good chance your doctor has prescribed a CPAP machine.

How does a CPAP machine work?

If you have never used a CPAP machine before, you might not be familiar with how it works. There is a specially designed mask which you’re required to wear while you sleep. This mask uses pressure to basically force air through your nasal passages and this forced air and ultimate increase of oxygen, prevents your airways from collapsing or restricting while your sleep. The theory is then you’re able to breathe freely and your sleep apnea will be eliminated.

There are benefits to wearing the mask. It will decrease and even abolish your snoring altogether, resulting in more rest for both you and your bed partner. A CPAP machine has also been known to decrease headaches.

While there is no question the machine has its advantages, the biggest disadvantage is its unpopularity. It’s a difficult appliance to commit to. You have to wear the mask EVERY single night and it needs to adequately cover up your nose and mouth. Because it’s such a nuisance, most people only end up wearing it for 4 hours a night (on average) which defeats the purpose of the machine altogether.

More negatives of the machine are it can lend itself to facial breakouts, as the straps of the device get dirty and oily. And because air is constantly being forced through the machine and through you, it leads to a dry, sore throat, a runny nose and it irritates the nose and the eyes. Another reason it can be unpopular is some patients feel claustrophobic with it on. 

All through the night, you have to use a pump and mask, forcing air through your body. The sound of the oxygen pump and the limiting, restrictive feeling of the mask is difficult for a lot of people to get used to. Some people have difficulty getting the mask to fit properly and suffer from air leakage.  

If you visit your family doctor, chances are they will prescribe a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine. While they do work, the problem is a lot of people find it uncomfortable to use and they don’t end up using it. In fact, only about 25% of people can fully adapt to CPAP use, therefore the majority of people continue to suffer from sleep apnea and its potentially life-threatening consequences.

West Kelowna dentist, Dr. Shauna Palmer has found oral appliance therapy can be a successful and simple treatment for her patients.

Using the MicrO2 device has its advantages:

• it’s light in weight
• there’s no tongue space invasion
• there are no metal parts to adjust or weaken the appliance

Read more about the MicrO2 Sleep and Snore Device here.

If you think you have a sleep disorder, particularly sleep apnea, it’s important to get treatment right away by a sleep apnea focused dentist like Dr. Shauna Palmer.

Depending on the severity and the cause of your sleep disorder, you do have choice and you do have options in terms of treatment. By treating the source of your sleep disorder, Kelowna’s Dr. Shauna Palmer can help you get a good night’s sleep and potentially relieve your sleep apnea for the rest of your life.

NOTE: Patients are required to be tested for obstructive sleep apnea prior to fabrication of a dental sleep apnea or snoring device. If sleep apnea is present a referral is required by a physician before proceeding with this treatment, and often an overnight polysomnogram sleep study with a certified sleep physician is required to manage this type of obstructive sleep apnea treatment.