Comfortable Sleep Solutions Beyond Traditional CPAP

CPAP Isn’t the Only Answer

If your CPAP machine is sitting in a drawer, you’re not alone. Studies consistently show that roughly half of patients stop using CPAP within the first year. The mask is uncomfortable. The noise keeps you up. Traveling with it is a hassle. Some people never get used to it at all.

That doesn’t mean your sleep apnea stops being a problem. It means you need a different solution.

Dr. Holt works with patients who have a sleep apnea diagnosis but can’t tolerate CPAP. His focus is oral appliance therapy, a small, custom-fit device worn at night that keeps your airway open without a mask, a hose, or a machine running beside you.

Why Patients Leave CPAP Behind

CPAP works well for patients who can wear it consistently. The problem is that consistent use is harder than it sounds.

Common reasons patients stop: mask pressure or skin irritation, dry mouth or nasal congestion, feeling claustrophobic with the mask on, noise that disrupts a partner’s sleep, difficulty exhaling against the machine’s airflow, and equipment that’s cumbersome to pack for travel.

Any one of these can make nightly use feel like more trouble than it’s worth. Over time, most patients just quit.

What Dr. Holt Can Offer Instead

Oral appliance therapy is the most established CPAP alternative for patients with obstructive sleep apnea. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recognizes it as a first-line treatment option for mild to moderate OSA, and as an appropriate choice for severe OSA when CPAP has failed.

Dr. Holt custom-fits each device to the patient’s mouth. It holds the lower jaw slightly forward during sleep, which keeps the airway open and reduces or eliminates the breathing interruptions that define sleep apnea.

There’s no mask to seal. No machine to plug in. Most patients find it far easier to wear consistently, which matters because treatment that gets used every night is treatment that actually works.

One important note: Dr. Holt provides the appliance and manages your care, but he doesn’t diagnose sleep apnea. You’ll need a diagnosis from a sleep physician and a completed sleep study before treatment begins. If you don’t already have one, Dr. Holt can help connect you with the right specialist.

Is an Oral Appliance Right for You?

An oral appliance may be a good fit if you have a confirmed sleep apnea diagnosis and have tried CPAP without success, if you have mild to moderate OSA and prefer to start with a less invasive option, if you travel frequently and need something portable, or if you snore loudly and want to address it alongside your apnea treatment.

It’s not the right fit for everyone. Patients with certain jaw conditions, significant dental work, or very severe apnea may need a different approach. Dr. Holt will review your sleep study results and your dental health before recommending a device.