Compare Snorefix to CPAP
“Oral appliances are indicated for patients with mild and moderate obstructive sleep apnea (O.S.A.). Oral appliances may be also used in patients with severe O.S.A. who are unable to tolerate a CPAP machine.”-American Academy of Sleep Medicine, Clinical Guideline for the Evaluation, Management, and Long-term Care of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Adults, 2009.
If you have trialled CPAP and could not tolerate it, a Snorefix mouthguard may work for you. Alternatively, if CPAP does work for you a Snorefix may be useful when you travel, have a power blackout or need an alternative solution.
Many people who use a CPAP at home prefer to travel with a Snorefix mouthguard as it is easy to use on an airplane and fits in your hand luggage – or even your pocket. For those who don’t want to use their CPAP when traveling, a Snorefix is an easy solution that is quick to clean and pack up and light to store and carry. For those with complex medical concerns, we can contact your doctor to ensure that a Snorefix is suitable for you when you travel. Using a Snorefix is certainly better than sleeping unassisted if you have known sleep apnoea.
Many people are unable to tolerate the mask, tubing and noise of CPAP. They often experience claustrophobia, nasal congestion, runny nose, dry nose and throat, headaches, sleep interruption and other symptoms that prevent them from using CPAP.
A Snorefix is comfortable. Most people find that it only takes a few weeks to adjust to wearing one. It takes seconds to insert and remove. Because the Snorefix fits completely and discretely in your mouth, it has a high rate of compliance and acceptance.
Go from this with CPAP |
To this with Snorefix |
|---|---|
 |
 |
| CPAP Continuous Positive Airway Pressure | Snorefix Mouthguard (custom made Mandibular Advancement Splint)* |
| The gold standard of treatment for Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) | First Line treatment for Mild to Moderate Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) and for those with Severe OSA who cannot tolerate CPAP |
| Noisy: CPAP generator is noisy. Its constantly running motor may disrupt sleep for you or your partner | Quiet: A dental device creates no noise of its own. Now you can give your partner ‘the silent treatment’ |
| Unattractiveness: People liken it to sleeping with a “Darth Vader mask” or “pilot mask” connected via a hose to a large medical device on the bedside table | Discrete: Small and unobtrusive slim line design that looks non-threatening and allows you to close your lips over the top. It fits completely within your mouth no-one needs to know you are wearing one |
| Power: Requires power and bedside table | Does not require electricity or bedside table |
| Claustrophobic feeling from having a mask on your face | Nothing on your face |
| The CPAP mask may cause a rash or discomfort on your face | Nothing on your face |
| Discomfort from the head straps | Nothing on your head |
| No jaw joint discomfort as nothing worn in the mouth | Initial jaw joint discomfort subsides within weeks |
| Must sleep on your back: Lying on your side may push the mask off leading to air leakage which blows up into the eyes causing eye dryness. | Tummy or side sleep in comfort and easily change positions at night or snuggle your bed partner. |
| Mouth functionality depends on style of mask chosen. | Can talk with it, drink water with it, laugh, yawn, move your jaw about with all styles |
| Hard to Travel: Heavy, bulky and always requires power. CPAP is cumbersome to clean/ pack/ set up and carry. | Ideal for Travel: Compact, lightweight, quick to pack and clean and fits in your pocket. |
| Ensure you have a suitable power source, correct power cables and adaptors. The voltage may not convert in some countries. | If you will be without power on your travels, a Snorefix is perfect to use when you can’t use CPAP. |
| Cleaning: Must clean out tubing and replace filters and masks over time. | Easy to Clean: Just clean with a toothbrush and leave dry during the day – it doesn’t need to soak. |
| Does not protect teeth from clenching or grinding. | Protects teeth and expensive restorations from excess bite stresses and forces of grinding and clenching |
| Usually doesn’t cause changes to the way you bite, | Side Effects: Minor bite changes can occur in few individuals due to slight shifting of the teeth or jaw position. This is not a contraindication to continued treatment and is generally well tolerated as patients can still chew and the smile and look the same. |
| Cost: Initially good as you can rent a CPAP short term to trial it. But then costs about $2000 to purchase. Can also purchase them second hand but need to buy a new mask and replace masks and hosing as they wear out. | Value for money: Given the quality, durability and high chance of success it lasts for four years with little maintenance. The overall cost of a Snorefix is far less than that of CPAP. |
| With a money back guarantee, the financial risk to try a Snorefix is small. |
Go from this with CPAP
CPAP Continuous Positive Airway Pressure
The gold standard of treatment for Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA)
Noisy: CPAP generator is noisy. Its constantly running motor may disrupt sleep for you or your partner
Unattractiveness: People liken it to sleeping with a “Darth Vader mask” or “pilot mask” connected via a hose to a large medical device on the bedside table
Power: Requires power and bedside table
Claustrophobic feeling from having a mask on your face
The CPAP mask may cause a rash or discomfort on your face
Discomfort from the head straps
No jaw joint discomfort as nothing worn in the mouth.
Must sleep on your back: Lying on your side may push the mask off leading to air leakage which blows up into the eyes causing eye dryness.
Mouth functionality depends on style of mask chosen.
Hard to Travel: Heavy, bulky and always requires power. CPAP is cumbersome to clean/ pack/ set up and carry.
Ensure you have a suitable power source, correct power cables and adaptors. The voltage may not convert in some countries.
Cleaning: Must clean out tubing and replace filters and masks over time.
Does not protect teeth from clenching or grinding.
Usually doesn’t cause changes to the way you bite,
Cost: Initially good as you can rent a CPAP short term to trial it. But then costs about $2000 to purchase. Can also purchase them second hand but need to buy a new mask and replace masks and hosing as they wear out.
To this with Snorefix
Snorefix Mouthguard (custom made Mandibular Advancement Splint)*
First Line treatment for Mild to Moderate Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) and for those with Severe OSA who cannot tolerate CPAP.
Quiet: A dental device creates no noise of its own. Now you can give your partner ‘the silent treatment’
Discrete: Small and unobtrusive slim line design that looks non-threatening and allows you to close your lips over the top. It fits completely within your mouth no-one needs to know you are wearing one
Does not require electricity or bedside table.
Nothing on your face
Nothing on your face
Nothing on your head
Initial jaw joint discomfort subsides within weeks.
Tummy or side sleep in comfort and easily change positions at night or snuggle your bed partner.
Can talk with it, drink water with it, laugh, yawn, move your jaw about with all styles.
Ideal for Travel: Compact, lightweight, quick to pack and clean and fits in your pocket.
If you will be without power on your travels, a Snorefix is perfect to use when you can’t use CPAP.
Easy to Clean: Just clean with a toothbrush and leave dry during the day – it doesn’t need to soak.
Protects teeth and expensive restorations from excess bite stresses and forces of grinding and clenching.
Side Effects: Minor bite changes can occur in few individuals due to slight shifting of the teeth or jaw position. This is not a contraindication to continued treatment and is generally well tolerated as patients can still chew and the smile and look the same.
Value for money: Given the quality, durability and high chance of success it lasts for four years with little maintenance. The overall cost of a Snorefix is far less than that of CPAP.
With a money back guarantee, the financial risk to try a Snorefixis small.
* Oral appliances should be custom fitted, and administered only through an accredited and experienced dental sleep medicine dentist like Dr Rebecca Oliver.
