Combined Therapy – Baytown, TX

CPAP Therapy

CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) therapy is the most prominent form of sleep apnea therapy. It features the use of a machine that is connected to a hose and a facial mask that covers the patient’s mouth and/or nose, funneling air down the throat at a consistent pace so as to prevent any breathing cessation. By making sure that you receive safe levels of oxygen throughout the night, CPAP does a good job of ensuring sound sleep. However, there is a serious downside: CPAP intolerance.

Many patients struggle to adapt to the bulky machinery and loud noises associated with the CPAP, experiencing chronic discomfort that eventually leads to them foregoing future use. While some people can eventually become accustomed after multiple weeks of diligent use, others will not be so lucky, leading to untreated sleep apnea.

Oral Appliance Therapy

Today, oral appliance therapy is strongly recommended by both the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine as the first choice of treatment for patients who fit the following characteristics:

• Those who suffer from chronic snoring without the presence of sleep apnea
• Those who have struggled with a habitual intolerance to CPAP treatment
• Those who experience mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea symptoms

Oral appliances are painstakingly designed to fit each patient’s unique mouth. While there are a variety of different brands available, most correct sleep apnea by comfortably shifting the jaw and/or tongue in a way that keeps the airway clear and allows for easy breathing throughout the night. This type of therapy is easy to use and highly portable – you can even bring it along while traveling without any difficulties, unlike CPAP machines. However, it’s important to remember that many patients can’t achieve true relief from sleep apnea by solely using an oral appliance, especially those with severe symptoms.

Combined Therapy

By combining traditional CPAP and the use of a customized oral appliance, Dr. Hutto can help many patients achieve unparalleled relief from their sleep apnea symptoms.

Originally, many patients would have to use a CPAP system alone on its highest setting, which is very difficult to become accustomed to and can even cause unpleasant symptoms like headaches and dry mouth. However, by adding oral appliance therapy into the equation, the CPAP’s settings can be adjusted to a lower, more comfortable level while still achieving the same success, reducing noise and maximizing the chances of compliance. Even patients with severe OSA are often pleasantly surprised by how effective combined therapy can be – and because you can still use your oral appliance while traveling, there doesn't have to be any gaps in the treatment process!

Who Should Consider Combined Therapy?

We know, combined therapy probably sounds like a true “miracle cure” right around now. However, it’s still important to remember that no one treatment plan can be the perfect fit for every single patient in need. During an initial sleep apnea consultation, Dr. Hutto will take the time to explore your sleep testing results in full detail and recommend the right path forward. Our team is most likely to recommend combined therapy when the following conditions are met:

• When patients have demonstrated clear, sustained noncompliance when using a CPAP
• When patients are not achieving the relief they need from their symptoms with oral appliance therapy alone
• When patients are not achieving the relief they need from their symptoms with CPAP treatment alone

What are the Benefits of Combined Therapy?

There are a number of valuable, lasting benefits associated with combined therapy, including the following:

• Better compliance – By decreasing the noise levels associated with CPAP and improving overall comfort, patients are more likely to adhere to sleep apnea treatment on a nightly basis. This is crucial, as diligent care is the only way to reverse the damage that’s been done to your oral health and overall wellbeing. Plus, you’ll be able to finally enjoy not only an ampler amount of sleep but higher quality sleep as well.
• Elevated comfort – With combined therapy, patients are able to wear a nasal mask that’s far less bulky than the “full face” model, as well as fewer thick straps. Because the oral appliance assists with keeping the airway unblocked, the CPAP can also be used on a lower pressure setting that’s quieter as well, allowing for more peaceful sleep.
• Maximized effectiveness – The American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine gathered a number of patient response studies when studying combined therapy, and they found that this specific treatment plan resulted in a noticeably dramatic reduction of both apnea (cessation of breathing for over 10 seconds at a time) episodes and hypopnea (dangerously shallow and/or slow breathing) episodes throughout a single night. Patients also experienced far less exhaustion throughout the following days. Upon further testing, it was found that far fewer breathing incidents were occurring each hour on average as well. Using the Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI), patients who solely used a CPAP saw a reduction to 4.4, while combined therapy users achieved further improvement all the way down to 2.6. When using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, results were very similar. Patients with untreated sleep apnea scored around a 12, while those using oral appliance therapy scored a 9. In comparison, the diligent use of combined therapy resulted in an average score of 7. These findings point towards a clear trend of success!
• Unparalleled convenience – Far too often, CPAP users who constantly have to travel elect to just leave their equipment at home. After all, the system and its components are heavy, and they require large amounts of distilled water to function as well that can’t be brought onto a plane. On the other hand, combined therapy provides an oral appliance that can be used for partial treatment while away from home for added comfort and safety.

Contact Our Team Today

Are you interested in learning more about sleep apnea and the treatment options available to you? Have you already tried CPAP therapy or oral appliances and are unhappy with the results? At Sleep Better Baytown, we want to help you find the treatment plan that works best for you and finally results in lasting, high-quality rest that helps you live life to the fullest. Please contact us today to schedule a consultation here in Baytown, TX, or if you have any specific questions we can answer for you. During this important visit, Dr. Hutto can review any past treatment you’ve undergone, take a close look at your sleep test results, and determine whether or not combined therapy may be a good avenue for further care.