The first one that we will discuss is not really a medical procedure like surgery or something of the sort. Instead the treatment is referred to as “Continuous Positive Airway Pressure” (CPAP). Continuous positive airway pressure is a treatment where a mask is worn over the nose and or the mouth while you sleep. Think of it of something like a oxygen mask. The mask is connected to a machine that would deliver a steady flow of air into your nostrils. The pressure from the machine will help keep your airways open so that your breathing is not interrupted or impaired. This may be uncomfortable for some to wear while they try to sleep, but if you think about it, Sleep apnea does not make it easy for you to sleep as it is.

There are also things dental devices that can be worn while you sleep that won’t be as uncomfortable as wearing a mask. These dental devices are made to help keep the person’s airway open while they sleep. These devices are specifically made to to fit the individual by a dentist that has special experience with sleep apnea.

Now in the cases that need to be solved with surgery. Unfortunately for some people they don’t have a choice but to go for some sort of surgery. Typically if you suffer from sleep apnea and you have a deviated septum, enlarged tonsils or a small lower jaw with an overbite that may be causing your throat to be abnormally narrow then surgery may just be want is needed to correct sleep apnea.

The most commonly performed surgical procedures for sleep apnea include:

Somnoplasty: A minimally invasive procedure to reduce the soft tissue in the upper airway.

Nasal surgery: Correction of nasal obstructions such as a deviated septum.

Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP): A procedure that removes soft tissue on the back of the throat and palate, increasing the width of the airway at the throat opening.

Mandibular maxillar advancement surgery: Invasive surgery to correct certain facial abnormalities or throat obstructions that contribute to sleep apnea.