Lake County, FL Sleep Apnea Therapy
Proudly serving The Villages, Ocala and Leesburg, FL
Sleep apnea and snoring effect millions of patients in the US. Sleep apnea is the cessation of breathing for ten or more seconds at a time throughout the night. While this may seem relatively harmless at first glance, sleep apnea sufferers are exposed to a number of health concerns including elevated blood pressure, severe exhaustion, and memory loss. If you or a loved one suffers from chronic snoring or sleep apnea, contact New Frontier Oral Surgery to find out how we can help you sleep soundly.
A Surgical Solution
One of the main causes of airway obstruction for sleep apnea sufferers is the relaxation of the soft pallet that then blocks the airway or vibrates causing snoring. A simple way to improve patients’ ability to breathe deeply and stop snoring during sleep is to insert small implants into the soft pallet. The palatal implant procedure is relatively simple. We start by administering local anesthesia. This is typically adequate to ensure patient comfort, but we may also combine numbing with another type of sedation for patient comfort. Next, several small incisions are made in the soft pallet, and small implants are inserted. Finally, we seal the implant sites with sutures, and once healed, patients typically experience significantly improved sleep with less snoring and fewer apnea events. This surgical procedure is not right for all snorers or sleep apnea sufferers. We’ll examine your soft pallet and review your treatment options to ensure you receive the right solution for your unique needs.
Oral Appliance Therapy
For many sleep apnea sufferers, a custom oral appliance is effective in repositioning the jaw to place pressure on throat muscles keeping the airway clear. These oral appliances are effective in managing both chronic snoring and mild to moderate sleep apnea. Continuous positive area pressure (CPAP) therapy is the traditional treatment method for patients suffering from sleep apnea. However, many patients find themselves unable to adjust to CPAP, and for these patients, oral appliances may be a better option. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine suggest patients consider treatment with oral appliances in the following situations:
- Patient is CPAP intolerant – unable to sleep soundly while using a CPAP system
- Patient does not achieve adequate relief form CPAP alone – oral appliances may be used in combination with CPAP
- Patient snores but does not have sleep apnea
- Patient frequently travels, especially by plane, making CPAP less than ideal
