My doctor has given me the option of treating severe sleep apnea with a dental device instead of CPAP. My initial sleep study showed an RDI of 47.
So far, it has been 2 weeks and I have not been feeling any effects by using the dental device. I am still tired during the day and my videos of myself still show me snoring and tossing and turning. On the plus side, I am not experience any jaw pain aside from a little bit of soreness in the morning which the dentists told me to expect. It also has gotten easier to wear as I don't mind it as much as I did the first couple of nights.
What's confusing to me was that there was no titrating process done by the dentist. The device can only be advanced by bending the wires and no adjustment was made since I got it. I am supposed to see my dentist every 4 weeks but that seems like a long time to be making adjustments.
Last night, my doctor gave me a Resmed ApneaLink to monitor my breath when I slept. I gave the machine back to the doctor today so he could process the results. I will see him next week to review the results, but I took a quick peek and it said that my RDI was 18.
Even though there's progress, I'm really getting impatient with getting my Apnea fixed. My energy level is not where I want it to be. If my dental device does not reduce my RDI any further, then I will getting a CPAP as soon as I can.
Prevail
Progress with a Dental Device
-
- Posts: 78
- Joined: Fri May 02, 2008 1:32 am
- Location: Brisbane Australia
Re: Progress with a Dental Device
I use a dental device for overnight trips etc and find it ok for that. Something wrong with yours, or you are not suited to it though if you are snoring I would think.
Good luck
KenD
Bris OZ
Good luck
KenD
Bris OZ
Machine : Fisher and Paykel HC221
Mask : Breeze Sleepgear Nasal Pillows
Pressure : 11.0
Commenced : 2002
Mask : Breeze Sleepgear Nasal Pillows
Pressure : 11.0
Commenced : 2002