Sleep Apnea Treatment

What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a serious and potentially life-threatening disorder involving repeated pauses in breathing while asleep. The most common form of this condition is obstructive sleep apnea, which occurs when an obstructed upper airway blocks the normal flow of oxygen. In someone afflicted with obstructive sleep apnea, the muscles of the throat and mouth relax during sleep to the point where they fall back into the upper airway and create a blockage that restricts breathing.

Signs and symptoms of this disorder can include, loud snoring, episodes of breathing cessation, abrupt awakenings, episodes of gasping for air, along with difficulties getting a good night’s sleep. Besides nighttime difficulties, sleep apnea can also cause daytime problems, such as a morning headache, excessive sleepiness, difficulty concentrating, and irritability. Furthermore, sleep apnea increases your risk for a range of medical conditions, including high blood pressure, chronic heart failure, atrial fibrillation, stroke, and other cardiovascular problems. It’s also associated with type 2 diabetes and depression. And recent research suggests a possible link between OSA and an increased risk for certain types of cancer.

Diagnosing Sleep Apnea

It’s because the primary symptoms, such as snoring and daytime fatigue, are often dismissed as normal or attributed to other causes. Additionally, since the most disruptive symptoms occur during sleep, individuals may be unaware of their condition unless alerted by a partner or family member.

As a first step in care, Dr. Kim requires all patients to undergo an in-person evaluation with a physician, followed by a comprehensive sleep study lasting one or two nights, known as polysomnography (PSG). The results of this study, along with other medical findings, play a role in determining the recommended therapy.

Sleep Apnea Treatment

The most common form of treatment for obstructive sleep apnea is a CPAP machine worn while sleeping. This device provides a steady stream of pressurized air into the respiratory system through a mask. However, in cases of mild to moderate sleep apnea or individuals who cannot tolerate a CPAP device, an oral appliance is often prescribed. Readily worn in a similar fashion to a mouthguard or an orthodontic retainer, the appliance is designed to help keep the tongue and soft tissues in the back of the throat from collapsing, thereby enabling the airway to stay open during sleep.

Dr. Kim works with the sleep medicine physician to achieve results that support wellness. She’ll design an oral appliance that facilitates healthier sleep time breathing while monitoring patients on an ongoing basis to check progress, the results of additional sleep studies, and if any appliance calibration is required. Care may also include an assessment of sleep hygiene and contributing factors such as weight, sleep position, alcohol, and medications.

A Simple Explanation for How Oral Appliances Work

In cases of mild to moderate sleep apnea, oral appliance therapy represents an excellent option in care. By decreasing the frequency or duration of sleep apneas and the associated episodes of overly shallow and interrupted breathing, oral appliance therapy eases sleep time respiratory struggles for improved health, safety, and overall well-being.

Designed to maintain a patent airway.

Similar in fit and feel to a removable orthodontic retainer, an oral appliance for the treatment of sleep apnea is fully customized for comfort and to meet the unique anatomic and functional needs of every case. As designed to help keep the tongue and soft tissues in the back of the throat from collapsing, this appliance enables the airway to remain open and patent during sleep.

Calibrated for maximum effectiveness.

In addition to being custom-crafted for a precise and comfortable fit, every oral appliance gets calibrated for maximum effectiveness. Besides serving as an effective treatment for mild to moderate cases of obstructive sleep apnea and snoring, oral appliances can also be considered an alternative option for certain patients intolerant of CPAP therapy.