How to Avoid Smashed Face Syndrome?

Long term CPAP use has been shown to cause "smashed face syndrome", maxillary retrusion resulting in a shortened facial profile and a worsening of apnea. How can this be avoided? Are nasal pillows a safer bet than nasal masks or full face masks that lie over top of the face? Would a nasal pillow mask keep one from developing "smashed face syndrome"? I switched over to nasal pillows a while back for fear of affecting my facial structure over the years, but never gave much thought to whether nasal pillows were really safer. I vaguely remember someone once mentioning that nasal pillows were safer, but would feel less anxious if someone were to verify this.

So I assume you read this
https://www.sleepandhealth.com/smashed- ... -cpap-use/

and went into panic mode

Did you bother to read the published study that was referenced and quoted?
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20616213

Extremely limited study...46 people
and the conclusion was it "may" alter the facial structure

This has been brought up here on the forum in the past and no one has ever said it happened to them.

Unless someone is really cranking that sucker down and they have some sort of medical issue which makes bone structure not very stable...I just don't see it happening.

Me...I have been on cpap for over 9 years now. No change in my facial structure or teeth or anything.
I have a family friend who has been on cpap for over 25 years and he looks exactly that same facial structure wise now as he did 25 years ago with the exception of a few more age related wrinkles since he is now 85 years young. He wears a full face mask too.

This thing....wouldn't even make it to the list of things I might worry about cpap doing to me.

Scrolling down...

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Hmmm...

palerider wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 28, 2018 12:12 am

Hmmm...

I totally missed the dentist part. Heck, no wonder they want to scare the hell out of cpap users into using dental products which I bet they would be very happy to supply.

palerider wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 28, 2018 12:12 am

Hmmm...
[/quote]

Exactly. My first thought while reading this article was "this must be advertsing a surgery center." Sure eniugh, a dentist trying to drum up business.

Dental devices!
Holy CRAP!
No wonder he posts a DISCLAIMER!
Even he is pretty sure that his products can/will cause harm!

This notion is hardly believable. Perhaps facial distortion could occur if a CPAP mask was strapped to an infant's head and left there...but adults? Many of us weeelllll into adulthood? Nah. Just nah.

Well, "smashed face syndrome" may not be much of a thing, but teeth moving from mask cushion pressure does seem to be a topic that has come up on the board over the years.

Even so, mine was caused by a horribly non-fitting mask,
which I switched out before any PERMANENT damage was caused.

My teeth moved. My upper teeth moved out. I knew this through the daily pain in my teeth and the widening gaps between my upper teeth. Opposite of the smashed face syndrome. I had new nightguards made and raised my nasal mask a touch higher. Seems fine now. I kind of like the extra space between my teeth now. It's easier to floss.

Changing masks was a no-brainer for me.
The DME issued me a LOSER. Shame on them!

That is not something that actually happens to CPAP users. Only respiratory patients who use a mask 24/7 have to sometimes worry about skin breakdown and pressure sores, but even that is pretty easily remedied by making sure the mask fits properly and is not too tight, and also switching up the mask type once in a while (use full face at night, and nasal pillows while awake, for example).

Obviously, these charlatans believe that many new cpappers are a bunch of pinheads.
Sadly, sometimes they are right.

Somebody needs to loosen their mask straps!