CPAP stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. CPAP therapy is by far the most popular treatment option for treating sleep apnea. CPAP machines use pressurized air that is delivered through the machine itself via a mask. Let’s take a look at what exactly a CPAP machine is and how it works from your dentist in Tamarac.
The CPAP machine is basically a small box which has a motorized fan inside. This fan very quietly draws air from the room, gently pressurizes it, then delivers it at a setting specific to your needs. The air intake section of the machine has a filter on it to eliminate the intake of dust, smoke, or other impurities in the air. The machine also has a humidification chamber built in. Warm, moist air soothes the nasal and upper airway passage and helps prevent swelling and discomfort that can sometimes occur.
People who have sleep apnea have problems with keeping the airway open for normal breathing as they sleep. This leads to pauses in breathing that can happen consistently enough to deprive the bloodstream of the oxygen it needs to deliver to all the organs. CPAP was created to help keep these pauses from happening.
At TLC Dental we offer several different kinds of sleep apnea treatment. Contact us today to learn how we can help with your sleep apnea and get you sleeping better at night every night.
