Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Treatment: CPAP vs Dental Appliances

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) occurs when the airway is blocked by the soft tissue of the throat during sleep. Snoring is an obvious indicator of OSA, along with stop/start breathing while sleeping. OSA can lead to hypoxia (an inadequate supply of oxygen to the body), an adverse effect on cardiac function, and an increased mortality rate if left untreated. This infographic explains the treatment options for obstructive sleep apnea and their advantages. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) consists of a pump attached to a face mask. On the other hand, mandibular advancement devices (MAD) are worn like a mouth guard. According to this infographic, for severe OSA cases, CPAP works marginally better. The infographic shows the advantages of both CPAP and MAD/MAS. As CPAP eliminates cessation of breathing while asleep the same benefit is reported for MAD/MAS. But which treatment is right for you? For people with severe OSA, CPAP offers slightly better results. Source: http://www.soundsleeper.com.au/blog/article/obstructive-sleep-apnoea-treatment-infographic.html