CPAP Alternatives During COVID-19

Oftentimes, the first solution prescribed to sleep apnea patients is a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) device. A CPAP machine uses a constant flow of air connected to a mask worn by the patient while they sleep. The air pressure prevents your airway from collapsing.

As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and the risks of aerosolization of the virus using CPAP devices, oral appliance therapy solutions for sleep apnea and snoring are now the preferred treatment.

It is the position of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine (AADSM) that oral appliance therapy (OAT) should be prescribed as a first-line therapy for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) during the COVID-19 pandemic. A number of studies have found evidence that COVID-19 can remain suspended in the air in aerosol particles. AADSM has indicated that PAP therapy potentially exposes individuals, especially those in proximity to the patient, to increased risk of transmission of COVID-19.

According to the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine (AADSM), during this pandemic, it is reasonable to assume that patients would prefer a therapy that both treats their OSA and does not increase the risk of COVID-19 transmission.

Read the full article here COVID 19 Position Statement