Sleep Apnea Treatment Options

If you are experiencing sleep apnea and looking for sleep apnea treatment options, then you are at the right place! Thanks to advanced medical research and technology, sleep apnea treatments are available in various forms that can help ease your condition.

Sleep apnea is a kind of disordered breathing that occurs during sleep. It is an umbrella term encompassing conditions that cause abnormal breathing in people or irregular breathing patterns while they sleep.

There are two significant categories of sleep apnea. Those who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) stop breathing periodically during the night because their airways become blocked, entirely or partially. Central sleep apnea (CSA) is different in that it occurs when a person's breathing pauses while they sleep due to a brain or neurological system problem.

Available Sleep Apnea Treatment Options

Sleep apnea treatment options come in a wide range. Studies have shown that lifestyle changes, such as losing weight or quitting smoking, might reverse sleep apnea or make the condition less severe for those with it. There are different therapy and surgical alternatives that can also help.

• Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)

Generally speaking, positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy is the gold standard for treating obstructive sleep apnea. This treatment aims to help you sleep better at night, enhance your oxygen levels, and feel less tired during the day.

• Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure (BiPAP)

Similar to CPAP, BiPAP is a breathing device. It uses pressure to allow air into your lungs. During regular breathing, the diaphragm lowers to let the lungs take in stand. To use the BiPAP machine, you will need to wear a mask.

• Automatic Positive Airway Pressure (APAP)

Automatic positive airway pressure (APAP) devices are distinct from continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines in their ability to adjust the air pressure automatically. Sleepers require varying pressures throughout the night, depending on their resting position, sleep stage, or congestion; therefore, this feature can make the machine more pleasant than a CPAP.

• Oral Appliances for Sleep Apnea Treatment

Oral appliances are like mouth guards; they help stabilize the jaw, mouth, and soft palate, all of the airway. They are adaptable, so you may modify them to aid with specific problems like difficulty breathing and snoring.

While PAP treatment is generally more successful, some patients report more comfort with an oral appliance. However, patients with mild to moderate sleep apnea can benefit from using an oral device.

• Mandibular Advanced Splints (MAS)

MAS is also a new sleep apnea treatment. In this procedure, the patient wears a dental appliance over their upper and lower teeth to keep their lower jaw retracted. MAS works to keep the airway open by keeping a forward jaw position, which supports a forward tongue position.

• Jaw Repositioning

Maxillomandibular advancement is a surgical procedure to move the jaw forward permanently. Researchers have shown that 85% of patients who undergo this procedure significantly improve their sleep apnea symptoms. However, it is one of the more intrusive sleep apnea treatment options than others. Maxillomandibular advancement has more risks and can affect a person's appearance.

• Nerve Stimulation

The Inspire sleep apnea treatment device is an alternative to the CPAP that stimulates the upper airway. It is a tiny pulse generator surgically implanted in your upper chest. In this new sleep apnea treatment form, a wire is implanted in your lung to track your breathing pattern. It keeps your throat muscles relaxed by another wire placed around your neck, which provides signals to the neurons that regulate these muscles. A portable remote allows you to activate it before bed and deactivate it upon waking.

Choose a sleep apnea treatment that is best for you

Following a sleep apnea diagnosis, your doctor will work with you to devise a treatment plan. The specifics of your treatment will be according to your unique needs, preferences, and circumstances, including any coexisting medical conditions, your level of tolerance, and the demands of your daily life.

Among others, inspiring sleep apnea treatment is highly beneficial. However, the most effective treatment is the one that a patient will stick with long enough to experience a reduction in their symptoms or total disappearance of those symptoms.

Contact your dentist in Walnut Creek, Dr. Darvishzadeh, at Walnut Creek Dental, to learn more about sleep apnea treatment options.

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*Neither this nor any other content in this media is meant to prescribe, recommend, or prevent any treatment or procedure. We highly recommend that you get the advice of a qualified dentist or other medical practitioners regarding your specific dental condition. *