Oral Appliance Treatment for Sleep Apnea Hoover
A Silent Alternative to CPAP Treatment
Many of the patients we see already come to us with a sleep apnea diagnosis in-hand and have given CPAP treatment a shot. Due to the fact that they’re light sleepers or simply uncomfortable with the face mask on, they find themselves getting lower quality of sleep despite having their sleep apnea treated. In short, some patients just aren’t a good fit for CPAP therapy. If this is the case for you, we encourage you to give us a call to learn more about oral appliances for sleep apnea in Hoover and whether you’re a good candidate.
Why Choose Alabama Dental Sleep and Wellness for Oral Appliances?
- Practice is Solely Focused in Sleep Apnea Care
- Personalized One-on-One Sleep Apnea Care
- We Accept & Maximize Medical Insurance
The Challenges of CPAP Treatment
Using a CPAP machine can present challenges for some users. It does represent quite a change from the normal sleep routine. From finding the right mask fit to adjusting to the sound of the machine, it’s not uncommon for patients to encounter obstacles that make compliance difficult. It’s also not uncommon for new CPAP users to experience discomfort or difficulty adjusting to their devices. This can manifest as a feeling of claustrophobia from wearing the mask, facial irritation, or difficulty sleeping due to the sensation of forced air. Gradual acclimatization and the proper mask are keys to figuring this part of the puzzle out, but many patients may opt out entirely. This is where oral appliance treatment can become a lifesaver!
How Does Oral Appliance Treatment Work?
Before you have a customized oral appliance crafted for you, our team will need to make sure that you’re a good candidate for this treatment. We’ll do this by scheduling a one-on-one consultation with Dr. Ardovino, which includes a thorough examination of your TMJ and airway.
If you have a sleep apnea diagnosis already, we’ll review your medical history, speak with you about CPAP therapy and your experiences with it, and go from there. However, if you don’t have a diagnosis yet, our team will schedule a sleep study for you with either a local sleep center that we work closely with, or through sleeptest.com, which offers at-home sleep testing through a sleep physician. Where you choose to have your sleep test done is up to you, but in any case, your results will be reviewed by a sleep physician who will then let you know whether you have sleep apnea.
Once it’s confirmed that you have sleep apnea, Dr. Ardovino will review your study results and diagnosis and let you know whether you’re a good candidate for oral appliance treatment. If you are, we’ll scan your mouth (no impression will be necessary!) and have your sleep appliance crafted by an FDA-approved professional sleep laboratory.
Advantages of Oral Appliance Treatment
Getting diagnosed and being prescribed CPAP treatment may have made you think that you’re well on your way to a better night’s rest. However, when the CPAP machine keeps you up all night instead of helping you sleep, you may lose hope in the process. The good news is that there are other sleep apnea treatments out there! With an oral sleep appliance in Hoover, you’ll be able to enjoy a number of benefits, including:
- Small appliance that can easily be brought aboard a plane or on a road trip without taking up too much space.
- Easy to clean and care for.
- Noise-free and customized just for you, making it as comfortable as possible.
- Offers people who aren’t compatible with CPAP therapy a more comfortable alternative.
- Can dramatically reduce chronic, loud snoring.
- Allows patients to experience deeper, more restful sleep with fewer interruptions.
Who Could Benefit from Oral Appliance Treatment?
The patients who could benefit the most from oral appliance treatment for sleep apnea are those who haven’t responded well to CPAP therapy or who have mild to moderate sleep apnea and are seeking an alternative to CPAP. In many cases, those who are light sleepers, frequently travel for work, or find it uncomfortable to have a face mask on while sleeping will find much-needed relief by switching to an oral appliance. However, the best way to learn whether you could benefit from this alternative to CPAP treatment is to schedule a consultation with our team.
What Types of Oral Appliance Treatment are Available?
Dr. Ardovino uses multiple brands of oral appliances to allow patients to choose the option that will best fit their unique needs:
- ProSomnus® Appliances: ProSomnus offers several different types of oral appliances that are each customized to fit your mouth comfortably. They’re each designed to be the least intrusive and most comfortable to wear, and yours will come with specific instructions on usage, care, and maintenance.
- SomnoMed® Appliances: SomnoMed has been crafting FDA-cleared, custom-fitted oral appliances to help treat sleep apnea for decades now. In fact, they’re the world’s largest supplier of dental sleep apnea appliances. Your SomnoMed appliance will be fitted, designed, and manufactured just for you.
Does Insurance Cover Oral Appliances for Sleep Apnea?
One unique feature of Alabama Dental Sleep and Wellness is, because we’re dedicated to treating patients with sleep apnea, we’re excellent at filing with patients’ medical insurance. In fact, if you have Viva Medicare, Tricare, or regular Medicare, it’s likely a good portion of your treatment costs will be covered. We also file claims for patients with private insurance plans through their employers as well, and we do our best to maximize your benefits.
Before you agree to treatment, our team will provide you with a cost estimate based on a benefits check with your medical insurance company so you know what you can expect to pay out of pocket.