Dental Appliance and Mouth Open

[DFR1]

Hi,

I was diagnosed with moderare OSA a few years ago. I have tried CPAP for a few years with mediocre
results; I have a Resmed S9, some masks have been better than others (I use a nasal mask), but the results
have not been great (Though not a disaster)

My physician suggested a dental appliance.  (My dentist told me that an appliance would likely work for me)

My question is as follows:  My understanding is that it is much better to breathe through the nose than
through the mouth. 

Thus, is the very fact that the dental appliance opens the mouth's airway, and forces breathing through 
the mouth, not a major drawback?

Then again, the CPAP nasal masks put the pressure though the nose, so I suppose that they also force
breathing through the mouth.


Thanks,
DFR1

[kiwii]

I would recommend getting setup with SleepyHead software.

This wiki page has links to the download page and also links to instructions on how to organize the charts:
http://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.php...SleepyHead

There are members here who are knowledgeable in reading the data from your machine and may be able to help, based on what your data shows.

[Sleep2Snore]

The trouble with Nasal masks is they tend to cause leaks through the mouth, slow at first unless you open your mouth, but it can start off slow, then as air dries out the mouth more escapes.  Mouth appliances MAD devices have their problems with causing pain in a lot of people (though this sometimes subsides) and sometimes it is hard to close your mouth fully so you might end up breathing through your mouth.
Everyone is different though, and there is a few they work for.  However, I think it is easier to get a good APAP and use that instead.
However, if you get a MAD device to work, it can be a lot easier if you do travel around a lot.
I just do not fancy using a MAD device at all, I know of very few that still use one, a few started using one, but they use an APAP machine now, mostly with success.
The MADs are just so expensive for what they are.  

[trish6hundred]

Hi DFR1,
WELCOME! to the forum.!