Other Devices for Sleep Apnea Treatment

While CPAP is the gold standard for sleep apnea treatment, some patients simply cannot tolerate the sleep mask. Other devices may help keep airways open to reduce the number of breathing stoppages each night for improved sleep and health.

Oral Appliances

The shape of the palate and size of the tongue can contribute to airway obstruction. Oral appliances that address these issues include:

Mandibular advancement devices (MAD), which ease the bottom jaw forward and stabilize the tongue to keep airways open.
Tongue retaining devices that keep the tongue in place (resting in the well of the mouth floor) to prevent airway obstruction.

Like the sleep mask, oral devices can also take some getting used to, but consistent use is important to get the benefits of improved sleep quality.

Position Pillows

Altering one’s body position while sleeping can help keep airways open. Since most back sleepers cannot adjust to a completely different body position while sleeping (i.e. side sleeping), pillows may be used to alter body position—usually inclining the upper body—to facilitate airway opening.

Invasive Treatments

If no device works for sleep apnea treatment—including CPAP—some patients may require surgery to remove excess tissue that blocks airways. For children, this is actually the primary sleep apnea treatment in the form of removing enlarged tonsils and adenoids. In adults, it is met with mixed success.

Talk to your sleep specialist at Neurology & Sleep Medicine in Albuquerque, New Mexico to learn more about all available sleep apnea treatments and strategies for increasing sleep mask comfort.