Combined Sleep Apnea Treatment Weatherford

Here at Weatherford Dental Sleep Medicine, Dr. Deborah Romack and the rest of our team want to give you a sleep apnea solution that's as effective and comfortable as possible. With combined therapy – a CPAP machine combined with the regular use of an oral appliance – many patients are able to wake up feeling refreshed and ready for the day.

What is Combined Sleep Apnea Therapy?

Typically, a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) system is considered the ideal treatment solution for patients who suffer from sleep apnea. However, the problem with this is that many of those patients simply go without using their CPAP machine because it creates a different kind of barrier to getting the rest they need, such as the discomfort it creates. In these cases, combined sleep apnea therapy in Weatherford can help you get the rest you need without making compromises.

By designing a customized oral appliance that works alongside your CPAP machine, you may only need to wear a small nasal mask instead of a full face mask. This is because your oral appliance, which looks similar to a nightguard, is helping prevent your airway from becoming obstructed, splitting the load between both your CPAP device and appliance. If your CPAP face mask is a big barrier to you being consistent about using it, you might benefit from combined therapy.

Who Needs Combined Sleep Apnea Therapy?

Dr. Romack may recommend combined sleep apnea therapy if you:

• Have moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea
• Aren’t getting the relief you need using either a CPAP device or oral appliance on its own
• Have had surgical corrective treatments that didn’t fully address your symptoms
• Find the full face mask on your CPAP machine uncomfortable to use, so you don’t use it
• Travel frequently for work

The Benefits of Combining a CPAP Machine & Oral Appliance

When you combine the benefits of a CPAP device and oral appliance therapy, you can enjoy a number of advantages to your health and sleep, including:

• The use of a head strap and full-face mask are no longer needed, so the discomfort and inconvenience that would often keep patients from using their CPAP is eliminated, resulting in more compliance and successful treatment overall.
• While positive airway pressure is still used to keep a patient’s airway open and clear, this pressure no longer has to be on the highest setting because the oral appliance works to keep the space open by pushing the jaw into a slightly forward position. Instead of being forced to undergo constant, significant noise that disrupts needed sleep, patients can enjoy a sensation that’s more similar to a soft humming. 
• Many patients simply leave their CPAP at home when traveling because carrying around such a bulky device is too much of a hardship. Thankfully, these patients can still enjoy at least partial relief from their symptoms with their portable oral appliance.
• In studies performed by the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, participants who underwent combined therapy had, on average, an AHI of 2.6. This number represents how many times a person stops breathing as they sleep, and it’s a significant improvement over both no treatment (6.6) and treatment with CPAP (4.4). The following day, the participants were asked to rank their level of sleepiness, and their average was much lower compared with using CPAP.

If you’re interested in learning more about combined sleep apnea therapy because you believe that it could be the answer you’ve been searching for, contact our team today to schedule a consultation.