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We offer a range of solutions to treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). If you’ve been diagnosed, please call to learn more about your options.
Sleep apnea, a condition that causes a person to stop breathing multiple times throughout the night, is estimated to affect more than one out of every four American adults between the ages of 30 and 70 years. This finding was reported in a study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology.
While sleep apnea can leave you tired and miserable, most people don’t realize the severe stress that it places on your cardiovascular and nervous systems.
High blood pressure is linked to sleep apnea as well as changes in heartbeat rhythms. Sleep apnea can also be a contributing factor in strokes and heart attacks. A study published in the journal Sleep demonstrated that severe untreated sleep apnea was associated with changes in brain tissue.
Here’s the good news: Sleep apnea, once identified and diagnosed, is highly treatable and several treatment options exist depending on how severe the condition is.
The first step is to obtain a proper diagnosis. Your primary health care provider or your general dentist can refer you to a sleep pathologist, who will perform tests to determine whether sleep apnea is present and if so, how severe the condition is. These tests can let you know how often breathing stops during sleep and how long each episode lasts. Once this information is available, we can discuss your treatment options.
The first line of treatment for most moderate to severe sleep apnea cases is CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) therapy. This treatment requires that you wear a mask that supplies a steady stream while you sleep, which keeps your airways open and allows for continuous breathing.
CPAP masks and machines have improved considerably over the years. The machine, which pressurizes and hydrates the air, is usually no louder than a fan (some people even appreciate the white noise the machine produces), and the masks are much smaller and more comfortable.
Even so, approximately half of people for whom CPAP is recommended are unable to use this therapy. This may result from frustrations with the mask and machine, lack of a steady source of power, or the inconvenience of needing the machine when traveling. Some people unintentionally pull the masks off while they are sleeping.
In this case, we need to discuss different options.
Those with mild to moderate sleep apnea may benefit from the use of an oral appliance. This appliance is custom made to fit your mouth properly and is designed to pull the lower jaw slightly forward, preventing the soft tissues from collapsing and blocking your airway. Dr. Hayes can design such an appliance for you.
More severe cases may benefit from surgery.
Some cases of sleep apnea are so severe that surgery is the only appropriate option. Dr. Hayes has ample experience and skill in performing these types of surgery so you can get relief and the sleep you so desperately need.
Different procedures are available, and after consulting with your sleep pathologist and taking imaging studies, Dr. Hayes can determine which one is right for your specific needs. Schedule your consultation with Dr. Hayes today to find out more.
If you’ve been diagnosed with sleep apnea and you have either failed CPAP therapy or your sleep pathologist has suggested surgery, please call Coal Creek Oral Surgery and Dental Implant Center in Lafayette, CO to learn more about your options. Good sleep is absolutely essential for good health, and we’ll help get you there.
Dr. Curtis Hayes is a board-certified oral surgeon in Lafayette, Colorado. After completing a Bachelors of Science degree in biochemistry at the United States Air Force Academy, Dr. Hayes attended the University of Colorado School of Dentistry. He graduated magna cum laude in 2003 with his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree (DDS). Most recently, Dr. Hayes became an International Best Selling author with a book he co-authored, Million Dollar Smile; Dr. Hayes wrote the chapter on digital dentistry.
If you’ve been diagnosed with sleep apnea, you have a few
different options for managing your condition. Your sleep pathologist
may have already prescribed CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure)
therapy, using a machine and a mask that helps keep your airways open
while you sleep. Unfortunately, many people have difficulties with this
therapy, finding it cumbersome and difficult to sleep with.
At
Coal Creek Oral Surgery and Dental Implant Center, we offer both
surgical and nonsurgical options to treat sleep apnea. If you have mild
to moderate sleep apnea, you might benefit from an oral appliance that
holds your jaw forward slightly, preventing the tissues in your throat
from collapsing and blocking the airway. This device is easily portable,
does not require a source of electricity, and won’t disturb your
partner.
If your sleep apnea is more severe, however, and CPAP
isn’t working well for you, it might be time to consider surgical
options. A number of surgical procedures are available to treat sleep
apnea. Dr. Hayes will review your case and coordinate with your sleep
pathologist if needed to determine which type of surgical procedure is
right for you.
Untreated sleep apnea can lead to serious
consequences, including motor vehicle or work accidents, heart attacks,
and stroke. We care about your health. Please call our office for a
consultation.
FEATURED BLOG POSTS - SLEEP APNEA
Can Jaw Surgery Fix Sleep Apnea?
If you struggle with a sleeping disorder, chronic snoring, or have been diagnosed by your pulmonologist with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) you have likely tried just about everything available to get a better night’s rest. From over the counter mouthguards to CPAP machines and even losing weight, it’s a constant battle to ensure that your body takes in enough oxygen as you sleep. But there may be something you haven’t considered: your jaw.
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