Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most well known sleep disorder in which a patient experiences one or more pauses in breathing or shallow breaths during sleep. It occurs when soft tissues of your throat and palate sag into your airway, blocking proper respiration and breathing. The sleep disruption caused by sleep apnea can negatively impact your quality of sleep, leaving you tired and irritable.

For most people, these interruptions in breathing occur between 2-10 seconds at a time, but they can be even longer. This may happen hundreds or even thousands of times per night, interfering with proper blood oxygenation and respiration. In the short term, this may cause poor-quality sleep, daytime sleepiness, and feelings of lethargy. In the long term, these regular interruptions to proper breathing can increase your risk of a heart attack and stroke.

Minor sleep disruptions can often be addressed with lifestyle changes such as weight loss, smoking cessation, or clearing your nasal passages.

Many patients that suffer from either sleep disruptions may be able to find relief using a custom removable oral Appliance which adjusts the position of the lower jaw and tongue during sleep. For moderate to severe sleep apnea, a breathing device called a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) may be helpful. A CPAP machine uses a mask that fits over your mouth and/or nose and gently blows air into your throat. This air pressure helps keep your airway open while you sleep.

For severe sleep apnea, surgery to widen the breathing passages by shrinking, stiffening, or removing excess tissue in the mouth and throat or resetting the lower jaw may be helpful. Surgery to shrink the tissue involves a small shot into the breathing passages. Surgery to stiffen excess tissue requires a small incision in the tissue and the insertion of a piece of stiff plastic.