Sleep Apnea Treatment Options
Find Your Pathway to Improved Sleep
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a serious condition that can downgrade your quality of life and endanger your long-term health. Thus, seeking diagnosis and treatment is vital for anyone who suspects they may have OSA. On this page, you will learn about some of the options for sleep apnea treatment in Charlottesville that can allow you to achieve the high-quality rest you need and deserve.
Oral Appliance Therapy
Apneas (periods of not breathing) occur when structures in the mouth, such as the tongue or soft palate, hinder airflow during the night. A custom-made oral appliance gently repositions the jaw at night, slightly shifting the oral structures so air can flow more easily.
Oral appliance therapy offers a number of distinct advantages, including:
- Many people struggle to adapt to using a CPAP machine because they find it uncomfortable. Most patients find it easier to tolerate an oral appliance.
- Oral sleep appliances are quite small, making them easy to take with you when you’re heading out for a vacation or business trip.
- CPAP machines make subtle noises throughout the night, but an oral appliance is totally silent.
- Oral sleep appliances are designed to last a long time, even in patients with bruxism habitual teeth grinding). In fact, your appliance could even stop the damage to your teeth that results from bruxism.
CPAP and Combined Therapy
Many physicians recommend a CPAP machine as the best way to address OSA, and CPAP therapy is certainly effective. It gently forces air through your airway at night, allowing for unobstructed breathing. It’s often best for individuals with moderate to severe OSA. Some patients can combine their CPAP machine with their oral appliance. The appliance may allow them to use their CPAP on a lower setting, contributing to more comforter, quieter nights.
Corrective Surgery
In some cases, structural defects that lead to OSA are so severe that surgery may be the best course of action. There are a number of different surgeries that may be used to address OSA, including nasal surgery, corrective jaw surgery, and surgery to remove excess tissue from the soft palate. If you are considering surgery to treat your sleep apnea, your doctor will clearly outline the risks and rewards of any procedure before you commit to it.
Other OSA Treatments
Oral appliance therapy, a CPAP machine, and surgery can all provide fast relief from sleep apnea. However, there may be other thing you can do that will lessen the severity of your OSA over time. For example, if you are obese, working to reduce your weight might mitigate or even eliminate your symptoms. Oral myofunctional therapy that trains your tongue to have a proper resting position may also be effective.
Are you ready to find relief from your OSA and enjoy a higher quality of life? Schedule a consultation with our team today. We may be able to provide sleep apnea and snoring treatment in Charlottesville that is both effective and comfortable.