Doctor James Ross on a great alternative to using CPAP to treat sleep apnea
There are many people that are intolerant to a CPAP. They don’t like a mask that covers their nose and mouth. They can make noise, keep their partner up. I have patients that are professional athletes that travel a lot and they come in and they say, “I don’t care what my score is, I’m not going to wear a CPAP.” Some are claustrophobic, so a lot of people don’t like the CPAPs because of that and they don’t know that there’s an alternative. If I had a patient was claustrophobic that couldn’t do a CPAP, even if they were severe, they would get help with an appliance. An oral appliance just is a small comfortable appliance, gently moves the jaw forward to open up the airway for the person to breathe, very comfortable, small, easy to travel with, and those are some of the advantages.