There are 3 major approaches to treating Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA):

1. Dental Appliance Therapy

Similar in appearance to an athletic mouthguard, these splint-like devices are placed in the mouth during sleep to prevent the blocking of the airway. They function by reposturing the mandible, tongue, soft palate, hyoid bone and by stabilizing the lower jaw.

When properly customized for patients by qualified dental professionals, sleep appliances are easy to use, relatively inexpensive and extremely effective in treating mild to moderate OSA. New research is also showing that patients with severe OSA, including those who are CPAP intolerant and/or not candidates for surgery, can also benefit greatly by using a dental sleep appliance

2. Nasal CPAP (continuous positive air pressure)

A Nasal CPAP unit is a machine that delivers lightly pressurized air through a hose that is hooked to a small nose mask that you must wear when you sleep. The flow of the air acts like an “air splint,” keeping your upper airway open and preventing apnea.

Patients who use Nasal CPAP units experience almost immediate and nearly total relief of their OSA symptoms. Despite its effectiveness, however, the rate of patient compliance with nasal CPAP therapy is extremely low.

3. Surgery

In severe cases, your physician may recommend removal of throat tissues, such as the soft palate, tonsils and adenoids, to enlarge your airway opening. While this may be your best treatment option, we urge patients to consider a) the risks inherent in surgery of any type, b) the long-term prognosis since removed tissues can grow back, and c) the availability of non-surgical therapies.