Seattle Sleep Apnea Treatment

Currently there are three forms of sleep apnea treatment: CPAP therapy, oral surgery, and Oral Appliance Therapy. The CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine has been the primary treatment method for sleep apnea and is usually prescribed by sleep centers that treat the condition. CPAP therapy actually has a very high rate of success; however the problem is that most patients do not enjoy wearing a CPAP mask to sleep at night. CPAP therapy is quite difficult to stick with, within six months the majority of patients who opted for CPAP therapy stop wearing their masks and look for alternative treatment options.
Oral surgery is another option for treatment. The problem with surgery is that it is quite often unsuccessful and can be quite painful, and expensive.

Oral appliance therapy has become a very popular choice as of late and with good reason. Getting fitted for an oral appliance is a much more comfortable and tolerable way to treat the condition. Oral appliances help to keep the tongue in a position that allows positive airflow, therefore stopping snoring and helping patients to get quality sleep. In addition oral appliances are covered by the majority of medical insurances.

Each treatment option has its place and not any single treatment option can work for all. That is why it is imperative to first see a sleep apnea specialist such as Dr. Albert to help identify what will be the best option for you. Read below for the diagnosis process.

Here are the complete procedure steps for diagnosing Sleep Apnea and getting fitted for an Oral Appliance:

1. Make an appointment with Dr. Albert at Seattle Sleep Medicine for a FREE consultation, and learn if Oral Appliance Therapy is for you.

2. If you have not had a sleep study performed, Dr. Albert will recommend either a sleep study at a local sleep center, or a take-home sleep testing device. If you have had a sleep study already, please bring your results in when you meet with Dr. Albert for your initial consultation. Please let him know if you are currently using a CPAP device.

3. The results of your sleep study will be thoroughly reviewed by Dr. Albert.

4. Dr. Albert will want to do a few tests in his office such as breathing tests. This will help Dr. Albert determine the best Oral Appliance suited for you. Once determined, he will take impressions for your Oral Appliance. Please allow a couple of hours for this appointment.

5. Your impressions, along with specific instructions for your case will be sent to the lab.

6. When your oral device comes in to our office, we will schedule an appointment for you to come in and try out your new Oral Appliance, and make any fine tuning adjustments that may be necessary.

7. Come in to our office once a month for the next three months to assure you are getting the desired results, and allow Dr. Albert to make any additional fine tuning adjustments to your appliance that may be needed to for comfort and results.

Call us for help today at (425) 771-3266 or click here to schedule an appointment.