Sleep Apnea /Snoring
People with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have disrupted sleep and low blood oxygen levels. When obstructive sleep apnea occurs, the tongue is sucked against the back of the throat. This blocks the upper airway and airflow stops. When the oxygen level in the brain becomes low enough, the sleeper partially awakens, the obstruction in the throat clears, and the flow of air starts again, usually with a loud gasp.
Repeated cycles of decreased oxygenation lead to very serious cardiovascular problems. Additionally, these individuals suffer from excessive daytime sleepiness, depression, and loss of concentration.
Some patients have obstructions that are less severe called Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome (UARS). In either case, the individuals suffer many of the same symptoms.
For many patients they do not have sleep apnea, but problems with snoring that also cause poor sleep for themselves and those sleeping near them.
The first step in treatment resides in recognition of the symptoms and seeking appropriate consultation. Dr. Leon-Guerrero can evaluate if a sleep apnea/snoring removable mouth appliance would be appropriate for you. This appliance works by opening the bite and gently advancing the mandible (lower jaw) with elastic straps to open the obstructed airway. Oral devices have several advantages: they fit entirely inside the mouth, they do not use electricity or make any noise that would bother a sleeping partner, and they allow the wearer to change sleeping positions. In some cases the Doctor would work with your physician to assess the problem and the anatomic relationships in the maxillofacial region. With cephalometric (skull x-ray) analysis, the doctors can ascertain the level of obstruction. Sometimes a naso-pharyngeal exam is done with a flexible fiber-optic camera. To confirm the amount of cardiovascular compromise and decreased oxygenation levels, a sleep study may be recommended to monitor an individual overnight.
There are several treatment options available in addition to the more conservative and less invasive sleep apnea/snoring removable mouth appliance. An initial treatment may consist of using a nasal CPAP machine that delivers pressurized oxygen through a nasal mask to limit obstruction at night. One of the surgical options is an uvulo-palato-pharyngo-plasty (UPPP), which is performed in the back of the soft palate and throat. A similar procedure is sometimes done with the assistance of a laser and is called a laser assisted uvulo-palato-plasty (LAUPP). In other cases, a radio-frequency probe is utilized to tighten the soft palate. These procedures usually performed under light IV sedation in the physicians office.
In more complex cases, the bones of the upper and lower jaw may be re-positioned to increase the size of the airway (orthognathic surgery). This procedure is done in the hospital under general anesthesia and requires a one to two day overnight stay in the hospital.
OSA is a very serious condition that needs careful attention and treatment. Most major medical plans offer coverage for diagnosis and treatment