Sleep apnea, if left untreated, can be a life-threatening condition. It is important to know what you can do to treat the condition before it gets out of hand. Our team is going to give you some of the most-used treatment methods for sleep apnea.

Treatment at home

Surprisingly enough there are treatments for mild cases of sleep apnea you can treat quickly on your own. Losing weight, avoiding sleeping pills or alcohol, changing the way you sleep and quitting smoking are beneficial behavior changes you can make to treat sleep apnea.

CPAP

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is a common sleep apnea treatment where a mask covering the nose and/or mouth delivers a continuous flow of air into the nose allowing the airway to remain open.

Dental Devices

When you visit your dentist for sleep apnea treatment, your dentist will customize a device for you that will allow the airway to remain open while you sleep. These devices should be made specifically by dentists with expertise in treating sleep apnea.

Surgery

There are times when surgery is required to treat sleep apnea. The more common surgeries performed include: nasal surgery, uvulopalatopharyngoplasty or UPPP, and mandibular maxillar advancement surgery.

These surgeries will only be used to treat sleep apnea if you have a deviated nasal septum, enlarged tonsils or a smaller jaw that is causing the throat to become too narrow.

If you have questions about sleep apnea or would like to schedule an appointment for a dental device, please call our office today at [phone].