Oral Surgery May Be the Key to Managing Sleep Apnea
Posted on 11/9/2020 by Dr. Chad Rebhun
According to the article, “Management of sleep apnea: a dental perspective,” published by the National Library of Medicine online, sleep disordered breathing, which includes simple snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), can lead to increased risks to hypertension, stroke, and ischemic heart disease. Managing sleep apnea through oral surgery is becoming increasingly important in managing sleep apnea complaints.
Why Sleep Apnea is Dangerous
While oral surgery is not frequently used as the first treatment option to manage sleep apnea, it is recommended in certain situations. The CPAP machine is often used to treat the condition. CPAP is an acronym that stands for “Continued Positive Airway Pressure.” According to medical specialists at the University of Michigan, CPAP therapy uses a device to help people breathe who have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Therefore, a CPAP machine increases the air pressure in a patient's throat so the airway will not collapse when a patient respirates. Obstructive sleep apnea can be life-threatening, as a person may stop breathing for as long as 10 seconds or more during sleep. These episodes may take place 5 to as many as 100 times in an hour.
When Oral Surgery for OSA is Recommended
Doctors often recommend oral surgery for OSA patients when the patient is younger and has been diagnosed with jaw abnormalities that were present at the time of birth. The surgery may also be prescribed, as noted, when a patient does not respond to CPAP therapy. In other cases, oral surgery may be advised to permanently correct a problem with sleep apnea. Penn Medicine states that this form of surgery, known as maxillomandibular advancement (MMA) or double-jaw surgery, can help CPAP patients or patients with OSA realize a permanent solution to breathing difficulties during sleep.
Are you a sleep apnea patient who has problems with CPAP therapy, or would you like to end a sleep apnea permanently? If so, give us a call for an appointment and consultation. Do so today, so we can help you realize better health overall.
Dental Blog | Optimum Oral Surgery Group At Optimum Oral Surgery Group, Dr. Donald G. Rebhun has created this informative blog to help educate the community. Read the dental blog posts here. Optimum Oral Surgery, 21 E Main Street, Moorestown, NJ 08057, (856)778-8686, optimumoralsurgery.com, 12/9/2023, Key Phrases: oral surgeon Moorestown Voorhees Mullica Hill,
According to the article, “Management of sleep apnea: a dental perspective,” published by the National Library of Medicine online, sleep disordered breathing, which includes simple snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), can lead to increased risks to hypertension, stroke, and ischemic heart disease. Managing sleep apnea through oral surgery is becoming increasingly important in managing sleep apnea complaints.