Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Device

Sleep apnea is caused by the upper airway being closed off when the muscles relax during sleep. This cutting off of the airway leads to a loss of oxygen, which triggers an automatic fight-or-flight response from the cardiovascular system and brain, which causes a waking response. This sort of thing, repeated over and over again, disrupts your sleep and puts undue strain on the heart.

Many patients are prescribed a CPAP Device, which is an air compressor that forces air up the nose in order to open the airway. While the CPAP is successful, research has shown that 80% of patients are non-compliant after one year.

Patients much prefer to wear an oral appliance that repositions the lower jaw and the tongue forward, which opens the airway. Patient compliance with patients wearing oral appliances is over 90% so successful treatment has an excellent long term result.

Since the January 2006 issue of the medical journal Sleep, the American Academy of Sleep medicine recommends that oral appliances be the first treatment option for patients with mild to moderate sleep apnea.