Resolving Obstructive Sleep Apnea with Simple Treatment Methods.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a serious condition that can lead to more than just fatigue, potentially resulting in high blood pressure, stroke, atrial fibrillation, diabetes, and other complications. Active treatment is essential. While Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machines are the most well-known treatment method, recently, intraoral devices have emerged as a convenient alternative with effects similar to CPAP.

 

In cases where patients experience snoring or have mild to moderate sleep apnea and do not wish to or have failed CPAP treatment, intraoral device therapy may be effective.

 

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is described as the repeated blockage of the upper airway during sleep, causing breathing interruptions and awakening from sleep. It is a problem that is often observed in individuals with a large tongue and a small lower jaw.

 

The number of patients seeking medical attention for sleep apnea has been steadily increasing. According to the National Health Insurance Service's statistics on nationally important diseases, the number of hospital visitors due to sleep apnea increased by 35% over three years, from 83,683 in 2019 to 113,224 in 2022.

 

A professor of oral and maxillofacial surgery explained, "Obstructive Sleep Apnea is strongly associated with obesity," adding, "In the case of women, there is a clear increase in the number of patients after menopause."

 

Sleep apnea is diagnosed through a sleep study, which measures the frequency of sleep apnea or hypopnea during sleep.

 

CPAP therapy involves supplying air to the upper airway during breathing while sleeping to prevent upper airway blockage. While the treatment is highly effective, many patients fail to comply due to the discomfort of wearing a mask every night.

 

An alternative to CPAP treatment is intraoral device therapy administered by dentists. An intraoral device is a dental appliance worn during sleep that moves the lower jaw forward, creating more airway space, pushing the tongue forward, and widening the airway to treat obstructive sleep apnea.

 

In cases where patients experience snoring or have mild to moderate sleep apnea and do not wish to or have failed CPAP treatment, intraoral device therapy may be effective. However, patients with serious underlying conditions such as heart disease, respiratory disorders, chronic systemic diseases, or periodontal disease may have restrictions on usage.

 

It is necessary to consider the patient's facial structure and age to develop an accurate treatment plan.