What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

Understanding Obstructive Sleep Apnea and How Jaw Surgery Can Help

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a serious sleep disorder where your airway becomes partially or completely blocked during sleep, reducing airflow and oxygen levels. This blockage can occur in different areas of the airway, such as the tonsils, adenoids, tongue, nasal passages, or even due to the position of your upper and lower jaw.

The alignment and development of your jaws play a crucial role in maintaining a clear airway. If your upper or lower jaw doesn’t grow properly, it can limit the space in your airway and contribute to obstructive sleep apnea.

One of the most effective treatments for OSA is maxillomandibular advancement (MMA) surgery. This procedure repositions the upper and lower jaws to significantly increase the airway space. Research shows this surgery has a success rate of up to 98% for treating obstructive sleep apnea. After the procedure, patients often notice improved breathing not just at night, but throughout the day, thanks to the anatomical improvements in their airway.

Why Treat My Sleep Apnea?

Untreated obstructive sleep apnea has many serious health implications. OSA has been linked to development of high blood pressure, arrhythmias, temporomandibular disorder, fibromyalgia, depression, anxiety, cardiovascular disease, stroke, heart attack and Alzheimer’s disease. Deep sleep has been linked to decreasing your risk of development of Neurocognitive disorders like Alzheimer’s. Early diagnosis and treatment is crucial to decreasing your risk of developing serious systemic diseases.

Ju YE, Finn MB, Sutphen CL, Herries EM, Jerome GM, Ladenson JH, Crimmins DL, Fagan AM, Holtzman DM. Obstructive sleep apnea decreases central nervous system-derived proteins in the cerebrospinal fluid. Ann Neurol. 2016 Jul;80(1):154-9. doi: 10.1002/ana.24672. Epub 2016 Jun 1. PMID: 27129429; PMCID: PMC5120585.

Keith A. Wafford. Aberrant waste disposal in neurodegeneration: why improved sleep could be the solution. Cerebral Circulation-Cognition and Behavior, Volume 2. 2021 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666245021000222