Anti snoring mouthpieces?

[ARnut]

$300?!? My dentist quoted $1500!



The above mentioned dentist sent me home a year or so ago with the machine, and told me that my O2 levels didn't drop to dangerous levels, and that I'm likely obstructive and not central. I'd like to have an appliance made if it would for sure help, as paying $1700 for a sleep study (that's my fantastic insurance w/deductible) is asinine, and I sleep so light I can't see a CPAP not waking me more than the condition. I haven't had a good nights sleep in 20 years.

For the price they should have someone in the bed with you!
The sleep apnea could be why you are sleeping so "light". Once i started using my cpap regularly i stopped waking up from the soft noises that used to wake me.
The weirdest part for me is getting used to the pressurization of the sinuses, but once asleep i don't even notice.

 

[dlbleak]

Thanks again Dave. My dentist is a long time family friend so talking to him about it will be no problem. If he can't do it, then he can send me to someone who can.
Another thing I have heard from people who got a CPAP is that they don't wake up to use the bathroom and the smallest things don't wake them either.

 

[cjjtulsa]

For the price they should have someone in the bed with you!
The sleep apnea could be why you are sleeping so "light". Once i started using my cpap regularly i stopped waking up from the soft noises that used to wake me.
The weirdest part for me is getting used to the pressurization of the sinuses, but once asleep i don't even notice.

I'm also concerned about the hoses, etc.; seems like any time you'd roll over, it would tug on the hose, and wake you up. I bought a nice, used machine from a friend, but haven't tried it as I'd need a new mask. And I've heard about how they need to be "calibrated" to you, but I've considered trying it for a week or so on the current settings, just to see if it helps at all. I'd MUCH rather have an oral appliance, though. Less invasive, less bulky, no noise, and no feeling like you're on life support.

 

[John6185]

Rat ski, these are not boil and bite, the buyer creates a mold and sends it back to the lab for preparation of the mouthpiece. To say it's dangerous, is to say someone that goes to a foreign country for cheaper dental work because it's too costly in the US is dangerous. Dentists here are costly and with our economy I believe it's reasonable to seek a more reasonable alternative. I agree with you on those boil and bite deals.
I too have Sleep Apnea-severe and I've been to sleep specialists in OKC/MWC and they rarely do anything but prescribe medications and even the sleep specialists at the VA Hospital in OKC that I've seen are lacking. Basically, a patient is on their own and responsible for their own health.
Respectfully

Addendum: the $300 appliance is at OU Dental School, for $1,500 I would certainly question that price and shop around,. I hate the CPAP machine. One has to carry it whenever you go overnight-trips, overseas etc.

 

[_CY_]

sooo much miss-information within this thread with lots of great info too.
the problem is most folks will not be able to tell the difference.

then compound the fact some folks are just not technically inclined and/or have no desire to learn the technical details.
sorry but there's just no way tell the bad info from the good without diving in.

 

[ratski]

Thanks again Dave. My dentist is a long time family friend so talking to him about it will be no problem. If he can't do it, then he can send me to someone who can.
Another thing I have heard from people who got a CPAP is that they don't wake up to use the bathroom and the smallest things don't wake them either.

You are right about the "not waking up" part of the treatment. Seems to be that that the waking up and needing to pee is really more like you are awakened by the apnea and you are trying to figure out why and figure "good time to go to the bathroom."

Dave

 

[ratski]

I'm also concerned about the hoses, etc.; seems like any time you'd roll over, it would tug on the hose, and wake you up. I bought a nice, used machine from a friend, but haven't tried it as I'd need a new mask. And I've heard about how they need to be "calibrated" to you, but I've considered trying it for a week or so on the current settings, just to see if it helps at all. I'd MUCH rather have an oral appliance, though. Less invasive, less bulky, no noise, and no feeling like you're on life support.

Hoses are a pain in the ass. As are some of the masks

Getting a used machine and trying it out might be a bit risky and could be uncomfortable. Usually, during a sleep study the technicians will calibrate the CPAP pressures and test which ones work best for you. From there, the CPAP provider will set the correct levels.

CPAPs can blow in your face anywhere from a soft fan to Oklahoma Windy levels. The correct levels are importants.

Dave

 

[ratski]

Rat ski, these are not boil and bite, the buyer creates a mold and sends it back to the lab for preparation of the mouthpiece. To say it's dangerous, is to say someone that goes to a foreign country for cheaper dental work because it's too costly in the US is dangerous. Dentists here are costly and with our economy I believe it's reasonable to seek a more reasonable alternative. I agree with you on those boil and bite deals.
I too have Sleep Apnea-severe and I've been to sleep specialists in OKC/MWC and they rarely do anything but prescribe medications and even the sleep specialists at the VA Hospital in OKC that I've seen are lacking. Basically, a patient is on their own and responsible for their own health.
Respectfully

Addendum: the $300 appliance is at OU Dental School, for $1,500 I would certainly question that price and shop around,. I hate the CPAP machine. One has to carry it whenever you go overnight-trips, overseas etc.

Sorry, but this is NOT the same as crowns and fillings. This is something that can and will kill you. I've seen plenty of the dentistry that you speak of coming from Mexico. I don't have any problems with someone getting it done there, but don't come crying to me when you realize how screwed up it is. Sorry, just the way I've seen it.

I can't say this enough, sleep apnea can kill you.
Plain and simple.
Mistreatment of sleep apnea can kill you as well

The dental treatment of sleep apnea IS NOT the same as getting a filling done.
There is much more to the dental treatment of sleep apnea than just taking molds and making appliances. There is, or should be, considerable followup adjustments, calibrations and testing to see if the apnea has actually been treated.

I don't know which appliance that OU is doing for 300 dollars, but you have to remember that OU Dental is a teaching institution and are funded as such. An effective 300 dollar appliance in the real world just does not exist. I can't have one made for that price, let alone provide all of the testing and followup care.

VA and Military are a pretty closed minded group. They are governed by specific regulations. I have sent more VA guys back to the VA for sleep studies and requests for Oral Devices than I can count. Even when all of the symptoms are documented, they just don't follow through on sleep testing.

You are welcome to gamble with your own life, but please don't try to get someone else to gamble with theirs.

Dave

 

[deerwhacker444]

I have a bud that had a stroke which the specialists attributed to sleep apnea at age 40?

When I had my test, my O2 level dropped to 55% at one point in the test. The test was stopped and I was put on the machine for the rest of the night to get it calibrated correctly. I thought I used to sleep well with no problems. It wasn't until someone heard me sleep talking that I was convinced to talk to my Dr. I averaged 150 apneas per hr., I've got it bad.

I use nasal pillows and there wasn't a big learning curve. Hoses aren't a big deal either once you're stone cold asleep. Getting good sleep was a life changer.

If you have sleep apena and aren't taking it seriously, you're rolling the dice with your life.

 

[cjjtulsa]

So how do you tell if your dentist knows what he's doing as far as apnea is concerned? I want to do the appliance, but he said that insurance may not cover it. I damned sure am not paying what I'll have to pay for a sleep study; my deductible is $1500, and since I go to the doc but never, that ends up being a nasty bite out of my budget. Then they'd no doubt try to sell me on the rotten CPAP - which I really have no desire to mess with. My apnea is enough that it's hard for me to sleep on my back, though my wife says I do from time to time. I usually "choke" as soon as I fall asleep and it jars me awake, but I guess sometimes I get away with it. Sleeping on my sides is no problem, but I'd like the option..... Would be nice if there was some referral reference for dentists that are experts in this field, so those of us who want to go the appliance route don't have to gamble with time, money, and pain in the ass testing.