Last updated on July 7th, 2023 at 01:59 pm
As is well documented, the primary treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnoea is CPAP – Continuous Positive Airway Pressure.
The CPAP machine blows air into your throat through a mask, creating enough pressure to prevent your throat from closing and causing an apnoea.
It is with good reason that CPAP is the first choice treatment – it is 100% effective in treating OSA, a claim that few treatments can make for any health condition. However it is not without its drawbacks, and some simply do not get on with CPAP.
So is there an alternative? Well, for those with mild OSA yes, there is. A Mandibular Advancement Device is a clinically proven method of treating snoring and mild OSA, and has also had success in treating moderate OSA, too.
It uses an oral appliance that brings your lower jaw forward. It doing so, it opens up the airways in the throat, increasing airflow and decreasing the pressure that leads to snoring and apnoeas. Try it for yourself now if you like; move your lower jaw forward and you will notice that breathing becomes easier.
Mandibular Advancement Devices are generally considered to be far more tolerable than CPAP; after all they use a simple mouth splint rather than a mask, and are therefore becomming a popular choice. However it they are not for everyone, and the levels of success do vary from user to user.
If you are considering trying a Mandibular Advancement Device (MAD), then it may be worth using a trial device, such as a Somnolis. This trial devices last for a few nights but will give you a good indication as to how effective Mandibular Advancement is for you.
Once you have tried that, you can look into a proper MAD. There are two main options. The first is a boil-and-bite MAD, such as the SomnoFit. These provide a customised mouth piece by biting into the mould, which then adapts to the shape of your teeth. The SomnoFit Mandibular Advancement Device retails for £89.95 and is available through CPAP.co.uk
For those on a higher budget, you may wish to try a SomnoDent Mandibular Advancement Device, which uses a mouth piece made specially for you through a dentist’s indentation. Prices on these vary from dentist to dentist, but are usually in the region of around £1,000.
Mandibular Advancement, like CPAP, may not be for everyone. However if you are truly struggling with CPAP and your OSA is classed as mild, then a MAD will provide a true, clinically proven alternative to CPAP. Try a Somnolis, see how you get on, and go from there. You never know – you may be able to ditch the mask completely.