If you’re living with sleep apnea, the effects of this dangerous condition often cause noticeable problems with your sleep and day-to-day life: loud snoring, chronic fatigue, loss of concentration, memory problems, and even systemic health complications like diabetes, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular problems.
Sleep apnea is characterized by repeated cessations in breathing during sleep that can range from mild (5-15 events per hour) to severe (over 30 events per hour). Sleep apnea occurs when the tongue and soft tissues block the upper airway and halt airflow to the lungs. As oxygen levels decrease, the brain responds by partially waking the sleeper to resume airflow, which usually occurs with a loud gasp. These events can have serious and life-threatening consequences. Consequences that can be long term. If you snore loudly or have other signs of this condition, we encourage you to visit our oral surgeon for personalized sleep apnea treatment in Shreveport, Bossier City, and Natchitoches, LA.
Our oral and maxillofacial surgeons at ArkLaTex Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery have the training and expertise in sleep apnea treatment in Shreveport, Bossier City, and Natchitoches, LA that resolves your symptoms and improves your quality of life. Oral surgeons pursue advanced and specialized education and surgical training for a minimum of four years after dental school. Oral surgeons like those on our team at ArkLaTex Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery have the extensive knowledge of your condition to provide the full range of sleep apnea treatments, including oral appliances, soft tissue surgery, and jaw advancement surgery. We will assess the cause of your obstructive sleep apnea and if surgical sleep apnea treatment is necessary, will recommend the best solution for your situation.
Sleep apnea treatment often begins with the most conservative treatments and therapies. This may include weight loss programs, CPAP machines, and oral appliances which help keep the tongue and tissues from blocking the upper airway during sleep. Many patients with mild to moderate sleep apnea find that these conservative options help reduce symptoms and improve their sleep.
Surgery for sleep apnea may be necessary when more conservative treatment has failed to improve symptoms. These surgeries can include soft palate surgery (UPPP), tongue repositioning, tonsillectomy, or nasal recontouring (septoplasty). Removing portions of the soft tissues can create a wider airway to help improve breathing during sleep.
Severe sleep apnea cases may need more advanced surgical treatment such as orthognathic surgery to bring the lower jaw forward. Known as maxillomandibular advancement surgery, this procedure moves the foundation of the face forward to enlarge the upper airway. This helps the airway be more resistant to pressure from soft tissue collapse to reduce obstruction during sleep.
Proper assessment and personalized treatment from our oral surgeon can provide you with numerous and long-lasting benefits, including:
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