Better Sleep Better Health

One of the questions we often are asked at Oregon Sleep Associates is “how do I know which CPAP mask to choose?”

It’s true that in today’s market there are literally dozens of masks available to the CPAP user. But this doesn’t mean that the choosing a mask needs to be difficult. Let’s look at some different types of masks and their features, uses, and pros and cons:

Part 2: FULL FACE CPAP MASKS

Patient sleeping using a Full Face style mask.

Full Face Masks (FFM), or oral/nasal masks, are larger than nasal masks but operate in a similar manner. These masks extend below the bottom lip to create seal that encompasses the user’s mouth as well as the nose. These masks are used when a person demonstrates a “mouth leak” when asleep. A mouth leak occurs when the jaw relaxes and air escapes through the mouth. Mouth leaks can also happen when the therapy pressure is high enough to force the mouth open even when wearing a chinstrap. If the pressure is escaping through the mouth, the CPAP can’t do its job and keep the airway open. The full-face style masks allow a user to breathe through either their nose or mouth without worrying about loosing pressure. Because of the larger surface area the FFM cushion must cover, these masks can sometimes have trouble sealing well. Fortunately, new designs and seals have been created to counteract these problems.

Here are some examples of Full Face CPAP Masks:

The ComfortGel Full FFM from Philips Respironics feature soft gel cushioning like the nasal ComfortGel Blue but works stops mouth leaks as well.

The Forma FFM by Fisher & Paykel offers a soft foam cushion and silicone seal that extends below the user’s chin to keep the mouth leaks in check.

ResMed’s Mirage Quattro FFM features a double walled silicone interface to ensure a complete seal.

General Pros And Cons of Full Face CPAP Masks:

Pros:

• Allows patients to breathe through nose or mouth
• Corrects mouth leak without need for chinstrap
• Available in a variety of sizes and cushions like the nasal masks
• Works well even at higher pressures
• Disperses pressure over a larger surface area, reducing sensation of high pressure

Cons:

• Larger surface area to seal can lead to mask leaks
• Larger mask size may look intimidating to new/claustrophobic users
• Generally louder than other masks
• Line of sight often obscured by forehead connection

If you’re in the Portland, OR area swing by our DME office where you can find these and many more masks. Or if you’re not in the Northwest check out the deals at BuyPAP.com. Also check out our facebook page and follow us on twitter for more updates.

Nasal CPAP Mask, notice the seal around the nose and four attachment points to the headgear.

One of the questions we often are asked at Oregon Sleep Associates is “how do I know which CPAP mask to choose?“ It’s true that in today’s market there are literally dozens of masks available to the CPAP user. But this doesn’t mean that the choosing a mask needs to be difficult. Let’s look at some different types of masks and their features, uses, and pros and cons:

Part 1: Nasal CPAP Masks

Nasal CPAP Masks are the traditional style of CPAP mask. They are generally triangular shaped to cover the user’s nose and create a seal to the face. Most connect to the headgear at four locations, 2 on the mask body and 2 on the forehead support. Nasal CPAP masks are suitable for most patients without a severe mouth leak and come with a variety of seals depending on the manufacturer and model. These seal options as well as multiple size cushions for each mask allow for a more customized experience for all users.

Here are some examples of Nasal CPAP masks:

 The ComfortGel Blue Nasal Mask seals to the face using a soft blue gel, forming a comfortable interface.

The Zest from Fisher & Paykel offers a foam cushion with silicone flap to ensure a good seal.

General Pros and Cons of Nasal CPAP Masks

Pros:

• Works for most users
• Many cushion and seal types
• Low surface area to seal
• Tried and true designs

Cons:

• Possible irritation of bridge of nose
• May require more fittings to find appropriate size
• Dependent on Chin Strap to correct any mouth leaks
• Line of sight obscured by forehead connection

As always, you can find these and many more masks in our DME office, or if you’re not in the Portland OR area buy them online at BuyPAP.com. Also check out our facebook page and follow us on twitter for more updates.