Combination Therapy
Optimizing Sleep Apnea Treatment
At Midwest Dental Sleep Center, we’re dedicated to helping patients find the most comfortable and effective treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). One highly effective approach we offer is Combination Therapy, which uses an Oral Appliance together with positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy, such as a nasal pillow mask.
What is Combination Therapy?
Combination Therapy pairs a custom oral appliance with a positive airway pressure i.e. CPAP, APAP, BiLevel.
This dual approach helps keep your airway open using two complementary mechanisms:
- Oral Appliance: Gently repositions your jaw forward to maintain an open airway.
- Positive Airway Pressure: Provides positive air pressure to keep tissues from collapsing during sleep.
Who Benefits from Combination Therapy?
Combination Therapy is ideal for:
- Patients who cannot tolerate high PAP pressures
- Patients who struggle with full-face CPAP masks
- Patients with residual symptoms using an oral appliance or CPAP alone
- Patients seeking greater comfort and effectiveness in treatment
Benefits of Combination Therapy
- Improved Comfort: Oral appliance reduces the air pressure needed, allowing for smaller, less invasive CPAP masks.
- Increased Compliance: Patients are more likely to consistently use therapy when it’s more tolerable.
- Better Outcomes: Studies show improved oxygenation and sleep quality when both treatments are used together.
- Enhanced Tolerance: Great option for patients who previously discontinued CPAP due to discomfort or claustrophobia.
Clinical Evidence
Recent studies support the efficacy of combination therapy:
- El-Solh et al. (2011): Combination therapy improved AHI and adherence in patients with moderate-to-severe OSA who were non-compliant with CPAP.
- Vanderveken et al. (2013): Lower therapeutic CPAP pressures were needed when used in combination with oral appliances.
- Ngiam et al. (2022): Showed reduced CPAP pressure requirements and enhanced patient satisfaction.
What It Looks Like
Is It Right for You?
Our team of board-certified dentists specializes in tailoring sleep apnea solutions to your unique needs. If you’ve struggled with CPAP, or if your oral appliance isn’t giving you the results you hoped for, Combination Therapy may be the key to better sleep and improved health.
Contact us today to schedule your consultation and learn if Combination Therapy is right for you.
Ready to Improve Your Sleep?
Schedule your consultation today!
Don’t let obstructive sleep apnea or snoring disrupt your life. Schedule your consultation today and take the first step toward restful nights and brighter days.