Sleep Apnea Treatment
Obstructive sleep apnea is an ongoing condition that disrupts sleep.
Sleep apnea is a disorder in which a patient experiences one or more pauses in breathing or shallow breaths during sleep. The sleep disruption caused by sleep apnea can negatively impact your quality of sleep, leaving you tired and irritable.
Mild sleep apnea can often be treated with lifestyle changes such as losing weight, positional therapy or with the addition of an oral appliance to help maintain an open airway while you sleep.
Could sleep apnea be disrupting your sleep?
- Do you wake up with a dry mouth?
- Do you wake up gasping for air?
- Do you suffer from excessive sleepiness during the day?
- Do you experience irritability?
- Do you have frequent morning headaches?
- Does your partner tell you that you snore or that you stop breathing while you sleep?
True or False
Sleep Apnea can help improve your overall health and wellbeing.
True
Treatments such as oral appliance therapy can significantly improve the quality of your sleep, which then improves your mood and overall health.
Treatments for Sleep Apnea
Mild Sleep Apnea
Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT) can often be an effective treatment for patients suffering from snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. Patients can achieve relief using a custom removable oral appliance that adjusts the position of the lower jaw and tongue to minimize airway obstruction.
Moderate to Severe Sleep Apnea
A breathing device called CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) may be an effective treatment option for moderate to severe sleep apnea. A CPAP machine uses a mask that fits over your mouth and/or nose and gently blows air into your throat. This constant air pressure helps keep your airway open while you sleep. An oral appliance can be used in conjunction with or as an alternative to the CPAP if a patient is unable to tolerate using the CPAP machine. In more severe cases of sleep apnea, corrective jaw surgery to adjust the bones of the upper and lower jaw to create an unobstructed airway may be necessary. Our doctors can help create a customized plan that fits your needs.
