3 Alternative Sleep Apnea Treatment Options

A CPAP machine sends a continuous flow of pressurized air to the throat, and this is to ensure that the patients airway stays open consistently during the time that they area sleep. This treatment option effectively treats the on and off pauses in breathing that is associated with sleep apnea.

There are also many different types of surgery to help with sleep apnea. Be sure to talk to your sleep doctor to find out which one of these treatment options is right, and recommended for you. Some of the treatment surgeries include:

– Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP): This procedure targets the back of the roof of the patients mouth.
– Radiofrequency Volumetric Tissue Reduction (RFVTR): Treatment option for people who suffer with mild to moderate sleep apnea. This treatment option uses controlled cauterization to shrink and tighten the tissues in and around the patients throat.
– Maxillomandibular osteotomy (MMO) and advancement (MMA): This surgery is typically a treatment option for patients who are suffering from severe sleep apnea. It allows the sleep doctor to move the upper and/or lower jaw forward. This enlarges the space for breathing in the entire throat.

There is a major connection between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and weight. It is a fact that being overweight or obese is one of the main primary risk factors of developing sleep apnea. This is due to the extra tissue accumulating around the upper airway – this can change the shape of the patient’s airway or the extra weight can make the throat more prone to collapsing during sleep. Weight management can greatly help patients who suffer from mild sleep apnea.

Oral appliances for sleep apnea are also called by sleep doctors, Jaw Advancing Device (JAD) or Mandibular Advancement Device (MAD). These sleep apnea oral appliances are always specially made by dentists. Not only do these devices work to fight against sleep apnea, but they are also rather effective to stop a patient from snoring. Oral appliances for sleep apnea are designed to move the jaw forward – this in turn will increase the size of the patient’s upper airway, thus reducing the air resistance and blockage that essentially leads to sleep apnea and snoring. These are custom made mouthpieces, but are also called by patients, sleep apnea mouth guards. They are often the treatment option that is the most effective in treating mild or moderate obstructive sleep apnea. Some of the benefits include:

– Improved sleep apnea symptoms compared to other treatments
– Compact & portable
– Discreet, the device is not visible when mouth is closed
– Immediate response, most patients report seeing improvements on the first night
– Energy conservation, the device does not require the use any electricity

Talk to the sleep doctors at Koala® Center For Sleep & TMJ Disorders and see if oral appliance therapy is the right sleep apnea treatment for you.