Alternatives to CPAP and Oral Appliances for Sleep Apnea

Dental & Orthodontic Treatments for Sleep Apnea

 For those diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the first lines of treatment typically recommended are a CPAP machine or custom oral appliance (also known as a mandibular advancement device). However, studies reveal that many patients do not use their CPAP or oral appliance long term. In fact, after five years only 42% still use their CPAP machine and just 48% still wear their oral appliance to sleep.

If you’re one of those who has tried a CPAP machine or an oral appliance without success — or you simply don’t like their inconvenience — it’s important not to give up! Untreated sleep apnea and airway issues will only worsen over time, causing health risks and side effects including chronic snoring, daytime fatigue, high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, heart problems — and even death.

How do you determine what alternative treatment will work best for me?

Through the use of breathing techniques and a series of devices that systematically open and advance the lower jaw, we can determine if there’s a jaw relationship that affects your breathing and getting a good night’s sleep. Once we’ve established a good jaw position, we’ll use follow-up sleep studies to confirm that this position does provide you with restful sleep. We can then determine the least invasive pathway through a combination of treatment options to alter your teeth or jaw and permanently open your airway.

What dental and orthodontic treatments are effective for sleep apnea?

At NYC SleepWell, our experienced team of sleep specialists, doctors, orthodontists, oral surgeons, and restorative dentists will develop a custom plan based on the severity of your sleep apnea — along with your lifestyle and personal preference. We understand that many prefer alternative treatments to CPAP and oral appliances and we’re pleased to offer proven options, such as:

• Orthodontic movement of the teeth. Using traditional braces, this treatment expands the palate and opens the arch wider, subsequently advancing the lower jaw to move the back of the tongue forward. As a result, a permanent airway solution will be created.
• Multiple crowns to alter the bite. With the jaw in a forward position, we change the shape of the teeth by utilizing a full arch of crowns to alter the bite to that forward position. By bringing the jaw forward and tongue off the back of the throat, this treatment also creates a permanent airway solution.

Why choose NYC SleepWell for your sleep apnea treatment?

Led by Dr. Ruben Cohen, a Board Certified Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, our skilled team has extensive experience in dental and orthodontic procedures in addition to the other options (including CPAP, surgery, and oral appliances) for treatment of sleep apnea.

For your added peace-of-mind, our facility is accredited by the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF), the Gold Standard in Accreditation.

Our goal at NYC SleepWell, plain and simple, is to help you sleep well – and be healthy!