Study Comparing CPAP and Oral Appliances

I was once a VERY successful CPAP/APAP user. Changed my life, honest Injun. The claims are indeed true if you have OSA and can tolerate proper pressures, you will be a changed person. However, after a tonsillectomy in 2013, my response to CPAP changed dramatically and I no longer tolerate pressures that keep my airway open during my sleep. If it were not for the fact I have a couple premium AutoPaps to give me SOME therapy the last few years, I'd have gone without any therapy.

I was recently re-diagnosed via a sleep study with "mild to mild moderate sleep apnea." Sleep doctor recommended an oral appliance and I am soon getting a Somnodent, probably a flex model. The thing thats been explained to me is these oral appliances are normally only effective for "mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea." With the real emphasis on "mild" OSA.

Face the facts. A ton of people out there have OSA. But the statistics say less than 50% will stick with any form of PAP therapy longterm. Stick a full face mask on them with that PAP and the statistics drop even more. CPAP works great if you can tolerate it...I used to tolerate it way better than most. Loved it. CPAP changed my life.

Then I had a tonsillectomy and no longer could tolerate my old AutoPaps at full pressures like I used to. Gradually, I saw the need for "other modalities" besides CPAP/BIPAP to treat OSA. I especially believe from my experiences there is this very distinct, you might say a unique need to be able to treat MILD sleep apnea to MODERATE sleep apnea but on the high end of moderate, like say 16 or 17 AHI with something other than CPAP. I think you need OPTIONS. Its made me change my mind on things.

Yeah, that is how I would put it. I think there is a unique need that is not always able to be met with AHIs of 5 to 16 or 17. Especially if you suffer from mental depression or any type of mood disorder or have anxiety disorders. Or if you just have ANY COMPLAINTS about non restorative sleep.

In some of these milder cases, CPAP might be a bit too strong, you get into side effect profiles people cant tolerate. In those cases, you need something else sometimes. Oftentimes, that might mean a custom made oral appliance like a Somnodent or other OA. SleepReview magazine, hell it seems half the magazine these days is about nothing but oral appliances and dental sleep medicine, I think that says a HUGE AMOUNT about the current status of treating sleep apnea.