Oral and maxillofacial surgeons, as medical professionals with an advanced understanding of facial anatomy and physiology, are garnering added importance in the diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea through customized surgery interventions.
This potentially lethal sleep disorder involves failure to breathe properly at rest due to some sort of obstruction in the breathing pathway. An anatomical cause accounts for most sleep apnea episodes, and this dimension is what oral surgeons are uniquely qualified to address.
Known for its loud snoring punctuated by episodes of silence as breathing momentarily stops, untreated sleep apnea leaves its victims perpetually tired and more vulnerable to heart disease, diabetes, and accidents. While one of the only viable treatment options is the use of CPAP machines, dental appliances and orthognathic surgery represent tempting alternatives or adjunctive therapies for many patients.
The retrognathic mandibles, enlarged tonsils/adenoids, and excess soft tissue deposits within the throat and mouth allow for the tongue and soft palate to drop back and flop against the airway during sleep. Precise mapping of the airway space and any obstructions throughout sleep cycles is obtained through 3D volumetric CT scans taken at the Nevada OMS facility to provide the optimal combination of oral modifications to augment airflow.
In the case of mild-moderate apnea, oral appliances such as mandibular advancement devices reposition the lower jaw and tongue in such a mechanical way that it opens the airway at nighttime. Other options include a more permanent correction through corrective orthognathic surgery.
Mandibular osteotomies, genioplasties, and maxillomandibular advancements are procedures that recontour facial bones and skeletal structures and also solve the issues of airway collapse permanently.
A preoperative sleep study objectively establishes the severity of the symptoms by monitoring a patient overnight before surgically changing the jaw position. A comprehensive examination also involves an ENT, dental occlusal examination, as well as 3D printing to help simulate the movements planned to be executed for preoperative discussion. Bone grafting might come in addition to more complex reconstruction.
While CPAP adherence can be extremely challenging in the long term for many, oral/dental appliance therapy allows a natural breathing pattern during sleep. For more severe diseases, well-designed orthognathic surgery reestablishes facial proportions, removing apnea root causes through advanced bony recontouring aided by virtual surgical planning. The post-operative management then allows easy access to fully restorative rest.
Consider an assessment with our dental sleep medicine experts at Nevada OMS. We invite exploring comprehensive treatments, from oral appliances to reconstructive jaw surgery, optimizing quality sleep that is so crucial for your health, quality of life, and daily functioning.
