An Alternative to CPAP for Sleep Apnea Treatment
If You've Already Been Diagnosed
Oral Appliance Therapy can be a great choice for treating sleep apnea. Where the CPAP was once the gold standard in sleep apnea treatment, Oral Appliance Therapy has emerged as the new and preferred solution, and has proven to be more comfortable and acceptable for many sleep apnea patients worldwide. At Core Sleep Solutions, Dr. Gary Core recommends the Herbst Oral Appliance to meet the needs of most of our sleep apnea patients.
It's been estimated that less than 50% of those prescribed a CPAP Device actually wear them as prescribed. If you've been prescribed a CPAP machine and find that it's too uncomfortable to wear each night, you need to find a new solution. Leaving your sleep apnea untreated is dangerous, and there IS another option for you!.
Oral Appliance Therapy is one of the 4 main treatments for Sleep apnea, along with behavioral modifications, (CPAP and surgery), and has proven to be more comfortable and acceptable for many sleep apnea patients worldwide.
Oral Appliance Therapy is our primary form of treatment for sleep apnea at Core Sleep Solutions, and we specialize in providing the Herbst Oral Appliance custom fit virtually for every mouth!
If You've Never Heard of CPAP...
If you're new to the world of sleep apena you may be wondering, what is CPAP? You've heard the abbreviation, but you're not sure what it actually means.
CPAP stands for "continuous positive airway pressure". CPAP is a breathing therapy machine that
delivers air to a mask worn over the nose and/or mouth to help consistent breathing. It's used primarily for sleep apnea, but also in the treatment of other breathing conditions.
CPAP has been the primary form of treatment prescribed for sleep apnea, but not many can
tolerate it. Most people who have tried to use CPAP machines find them incredibly uncomfortable, and are unable to live with them long term, meaning they continue dealing with the negative effects of sleep apnea, such as high blood pressure, anxiety and depression, or decreased mental clarity as well as the risk of death or diabetes.
A Better Solution:
Oral Appliance Therapy
At Core Sleep Solutions, we use custom fitted Herbst Oral Appliance Devices to treat sleep apnea.
If you've been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea and have had difficulty with CPAP devices in the past, you should consider choosing this path of treatment.
If you've not yet been diagnosed, you'll want to schedule your consultation right away to ensure that a treatment plan can be developed if you do in fact suffer from sleep apnea. Likely, Oral Appliance Therapy will be a great option as they're much less intrusive, making the transition to treatment far more tolerable for you
How Does it Work?
The first step is actually making sure that Oral Appliance Therapy is right for you. You'll either be newly diagnosed, or our sleep team will review your medical history and type of sleep apnea to determine if this is truly the right fit. Oral Appliance Therapy is an ideal option for most people, but not everyone, and it's imperative that your treatment is tailored to you. We'll make sure that you're getting the care you really need. If this is the best course of action, you'll be fitted with an Herbst Oral Appliance that is custom designed for your mouth. A custom device ensures it's more effective, fits better and is more comfortable, giving you the relaxing night's sleep you've been 'dreaming', of with a treatment option you can live with long term.
What is the Herbst Oral Appliance?
The Herbst appliance is a small, acrylic apparatus that fits on the upper and lower teeth like a retainer. The Herbst appliance is worn while the patient sleeps, modifying the position of the jaw. The appliance moves the lower jaw slightly forward, causing the muscles and soft tissue of the upper airway to tighten, keeping the air pathway open and preventing the patient from experiencing a disruption in breathing.
Not only is this appliance quite effective in treating sleep apnea, but patients find it to be very comfortable. Patients can drink, speak, and have the ability to completely seal their lips while wearing the Herbst appliance. The appliance is discreet, eliminating the noise and bulk that come with the conventional CPAP machine and it is exceptionally durable so you won’t have to worry about frequent repairs or replacements with normal use.
