Noninvasive treatments such as changes in lifestyle or the use of a CPAP machine can sometimes treat sleep apnea successfully. When those methods don't work, your surgeon can perform a surgical procedure to clear your airway.
Sleep apnea occurs when breathing is impaired to the point of stopping during sleep. An estimated 12 million Americans are affected by this serious but common condition. These pauses in breathing, called apneas, may last a few seconds or a few minutes. Sleep apnea may also include shallow breaths during sleep. The affected person may not be aware that they have sleep apnea, although they may feel very tired during the day despite thinking that they have gotten a good night’s sleep.
Common symptoms associated with sleep apnea include:
A sleep study, also called a polysomnogram, can confirm a diagnosis of sleep apnea. If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, a personalized treatment plan will be created just for you. Patients with mild to moderate sleep apnea may benefit from conservative treatments, such as changes in lifestyle behaviors, use of a CPAP machine, or use of a dental device to keep the airway open during sleep. For patients where these treatments fail to work, or in patients with severe sleep apnea, surgical correction may be the right option.
The surgical treatment of sleep apnea depends on many factors. You may qualify for the surgical treatment of sleep apnea if:
In general, the surgical treatment of sleep apnea involves repositioning the upper and/or lower jaw to widen the breathing passages. When you come to Boulder Oral Surgery to discuss your sleep apnea, your oral surgeon will review your condition and formulate the best treatment method. This procedure may be performed in our practice or hospital.
Boulder Oral Surgery performs a wide scope of oral and maxillofacial surgery treatments to patients of the greater Boulder, Colorado, area, including the surgical treatment of sleep apnea. With offices in Boulder and Longmont, we provide convenient locations for our patients to continue to receive the care they have come to know and expect from us. If you have been referred for the surgical treatment of your sleep apnea, we encourage you to give us a call to schedule an appointment.
