Sleep Apnea Treatment in Aventura, Pembroke Pines, and Fort Lauderdale, FL

At The Dental Care Group, we offer a range of treatment options to effectively manage sleep apnea and TMJ disorders, as well as snoring problems. We’ll go over your options and discuss which will be best suited to treat your sleep apnea and meet your individual needs.

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Therapy

CPAP is a widely used treatment for moderate to severe sleep apnea. It involves wearing a mask over the nose or mouth during sleep, which delivers a constant stream of pressurized air, keeping the airway open throughout the night.

CPAP therapy is highly effective and has been shown to:

• Significantly reduce or eliminate apnea events
• Improve daytime alertness and cognitive function
• Lower blood pressure
• Reduce cardiovascular risk
• Improve quality of life

While CPAP is a common treatment for severe sleep apnea, some patients find the mask uncomfortable or experience difficulty adjusting to the therapy. For these individuals, alternative treatments may be more appropriate.

Oral Appliance Therapy

Custom-fitted oral appliances, similar to mouthguards or sports guards, can be prescribed to reposition the jaw and tongue, preventing airway obstruction during sleep. At The Dental Care Group, we specialize in creating custom oral appliances, including mandibular advancement devices (MADs), that are tailored to your mouth’s unique shape and size.

Oral appliances work by:

• Gently repositioning the lower jaw forward
• Preventing the tongue from falling back into the throat
• Keeping the airway open during sleep

Benefits of oral appliance therapy include:

• More comfortable than CPAP for many patients
• Quiet and discreet
• Easy to travel with
• No electricity required
• High compliance rates
• Effective for mild to moderate sleep apnea

Our experienced dentists will take precise impressions of your teeth to create a custom appliance that fits comfortably and works effectively. We’ll also schedule follow-up appointments to ensure proper fit and make any necessary adjustments.

Lifestyle Modifications

Certain lifestyle changes can help alleviate sleep apnea symptoms and may be used alone for mild cases or in combination with other treatments. These may include:

• Maintaining a Healthy Weight: Weight loss is one of the most effective lifestyle interventions for sleep apnea. Even a modest reduction of 10% of body weight can significantly improve symptoms for overweight individuals.
• Regular Exercise: Physical activity can help with weight management, improve muscle tone, and enhance overall cardiovascular health, all of which can reduce sleep apnea severity.
• Avoiding Alcohol and Sedatives: These substances relax the throat muscles and can worsen sleep apnea. It’s best to avoid them entirely or at least refrain from consuming them within several hours of bedtime.
• Sleeping on Your Side Rather Than Your Back: Positional therapy can be effective for those whose sleep apnea is worse when sleeping on their back. Special pillows or devices can help maintain side-sleeping throughout the night.
• Quitting Smoking: Smoking increases inflammation and fluid retention in the airway, making obstruction more likely. Quitting smoking can improve sleep apnea symptoms.
• Treating Nasal Congestion: Using nasal decongestants, saline rinses, or treating underlying allergies can improve nasal breathing and reduce sleep apnea severity.
• Maintaining Good Sleep Hygiene: Establishing a consistent sleep schedule, creating a comfortable sleep environment, and following a relaxing bedtime routine can improve overall sleep quality.

Mouth and Throat Exercises

Mouth and throat exercises, also known as oropharyngeal exercises, can be a useful complement to other treatments for mild cases of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). These exercises aim to strengthen the muscles in the mouth and throat, potentially reducing the severity of sleep apnea symptoms.

Regular practice of these exercises can:

• Improve muscle tone in the upper airway
• Reduce the likelihood of airway collapse during sleep
• Complement other treatment methods
• Be performed at home without special equipment

However, these exercises may not be a standalone solution for moderate to severe OSA and should be used as part of a comprehensive treatment plan.

Surgical Interventions

In some cases, surgical options may be considered to address anatomical issues contributing to sleep apnea. Surgery is typically reserved for severe cases where other treatments have failed or when there are specific structural abnormalities that can be corrected. These surgical procedures include:

• Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP): Removes excess tissue from the throat to widen the airway.
• Genioglossus Advancement: Repositions the tongue muscle attachment to prevent it from collapsing into the airway.
• Mandibular Advancement Surgery: Repositions the jaw to enlarge the space behind the tongue and soft palate.
• Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy: Particularly effective for children with enlarged tonsils and adenoids causing sleep apnea.
• Nasal Surgery: Corrects structural problems like a deviated septum or removes nasal polyps to improve breathing.
• Tracheostomy: A last-resort procedure for severe, life-threatening sleep apnea that hasn’t responded to other treatments.

Surgery carries risks and requires careful consideration. Our team will help you understand whether surgery might be appropriate for your situation and refer you to qualified specialists if needed.