Trying Dental Appliance?

[HoseCrusher]

Perhaps this would be a good time to try to get an understanding on sleep disorders.

Obstructive sleep apnea tends to result in desaturations. Obstructive sleep apnea can be eliminated by air splinting using xPAP therapy. A good indication of eliminating obstructive sleep apnea is by monitoring O2 saturation. If there are no desaturation events, you have eliminated the obstruction.

The part that I don't fully understand is that beyond obstructions, there seem to be other sleep issues. However, while the other sleep issues damage you by robbing you of rest and sleep, they are no way as damaging as the obstructive damage you receive by O2 desaturation.

So, if obstructive events are 10 on the scale of damage, where to the other sleep issues fall?

The reason I ask is because my sleep doctor simply told me that I had fractured sleep. My cardiologist is interested in O2 levels and pulse changes and does not express any interest in machine AHI. I am under the impression that as long as my O2 levels are good, and I wake up refreshed, I am good to go in spite of my reported fractured sleep.

[davecpap]

I've had two sleep studies, and neither of them showed significant desaturations. They also showed that my sleep apnea (AHI 30 without treatment) is comprised almost exclusively of hypopneas, and not apneas. I had a very fragmented sleep architecture.

For me, I think the issue was the hypopneas disrupting my sleep so I never awoke refreshed. My O2 levels never dropped below the low 90s. The lack of desaturations and apneas has caused a couple sleep doctors to term my sleep apnea 'mild', but I've also had some call it moderate based on the AHI.

[jazzer4]

Dave thanks for the up-date on your MAD. I've been wondering if it was working for you.
Let me know if you do try both the MAD and your machine. That does sound like a good way to start.
***** insurance co's. Sounds like you gave it a good effort but it still didn't work. How could it? It sounds like they set it up to fail because they don't understand of care about the office visits, making the appliance and follow up. No dentist would have completed all that in 12 days...

[ervinsanders]

Most dental appliances used in sleep apnea therapy were originally designed as a stop-snoring aid. With a few advances in design they have been found to be a great option for many people suffering from mild to moderate sleep apnea. If you suffer from severe sleep apnea dental appliances are less likely to be effective enough and you may need to use either the CPAP or have surgery done.

[MADe1]

Sorry if I'm reviving a dead thread but I just joined. My sleep Doc, whom I love, originally suggested a mandibular advancement device even though he knew that cpap would work better because he believes that I'd have an easier time adapting to it. He's probably right. There really expensive though and my insurance, MassHealth, has NO dental coverage. Though, surprisingly they will pay 100% for sleep studies and cpap supplies. I'm hoping that since they do pay for cpap, I might be able to convince them to at least chip in for a MAD. Dave, what did you say to your insurance co. (Blue Cross) to get them to pay something?

[Stephen001]

The effectiveness of the therapy using the sleep apnea dental appliance has been remarkable as severe conditions were prevented from developing. Less hypertension and lower risks of stroke and heart disease: these are actually the expected results after using the sleep apnea dental appliance.