Sleeplessness, insomnia, snoring and daytime fatigue could all be symptoms of a sleep disorder one of which the most common is sleep apnea or sleep apnea snoring, which may be treated with orthognathic surgery. Sleep apnea is characterized by breathing that stops for at least ten seconds several times at night. This will arouse the patient whenever it occurs, although he may never remember waking up. The repeated awakenings at night of sleep apnea lead to an increase in the incidence of auto accidents, heart attacks, stroke, and lowered daytime productivity. These also increase with long-term untreated sleep disorders of any kind. Sleep disorders and sleep apnea are serious conditions that require prompt treatment to reduce the adverse side effects. Depending upon the severity of the disorder and its cause, orthognathic surgery, also called corrective jaw surgery or maxillomandibular advancement, might be required. A precise diagnosis to ensure that this is the best course of action must be made.
The only way for sleep apnea to be diagnosed is for the patient to undergo an overnight sleep study called polysomnography. With a sleep study, the dentist will be able to determine if orthognathic surgery is an option for sleep apnea, since the study will tell the type and severity of sleep apnea suffered. This is a painless, drugless series of tests that will tell the physician which form of disordered sleeping is being suffered. If the patient, after the first night shows signs of sleep apnea, a second night of polysomnography might be needed. During this second night, lung function and breathing rate are carefully monitored to determine which of the two main types of sleep apnea is occurring.
There are two main types of sleep apnea. Central sleep apnea (CSA) stops breathing at night due to a malfunction of the brain to send the proper signals to the lungs to breath. Orthognathic surgery is not used for this form. Since the problem is not physiological. Obstructive sleep apnea is the more common form. It happens when soft tissues at the back of the throat block the airway and stop airflow to the lungs. There are several treatment options for this, most of which will be offered by a competent dentist, orthodontist or oral surgeon. Finding an oral health physician is important for the prompt treatment of obstructive sleep apnea, especially since treatment might require serious surgical procedures such as orthognathic surgery.
Mild to moderate sleep apnea is usually corrected through the fitting of a sleep apnea oral appliance by and orthodontist or through a mild surgery such as somnoplasty which removed the blocking soft tissues with a laser. A patient who is diagnosed with severe obstructive sleep apnea or does not respond to other forms of treatment is a candidate for orthognathic surgery. Orthognathic surgery is known by many other names such as maxillomandibular advancement (MMA) or corrective jaw surgery. This is a very serious procedure and must be conducted through the aid of both an experienced orthodontist and and oral or comsetic dental surgeon. This surgery involves moving the entire jaw forward to open up the space at the back of the throat. Since the teeth and the jaw are moved, prior to orthognathic surgery, an orthodontist will fit the patient with braces to move the teeth forward. The oral surgeon will then move the jaw forward during the procedure. Orthognathic surgery is typically very effective for resolving obstructive sleep apnea. The experience of the oral surgeon is also a direct factor in success rates.
What is the cost or prices of dental implants? The cost or pricing of any dental procedure depends upon a number of factors, including the number of teeth to be treated and the unique challenges of the procedure. The Medical Center Dental Group of Texas charges competitive rates for this, and all other procedures we perform. More importantly, we will give your case the care and attention it deserves.
Cosmetic Dentistry is a specialized field that requires extensive knowledge and experience to be done correctly. The Medical Center Dental Group in Houston, Texas brings all of that and more to the direct benefit of each and every patient we treat. Although we are located in the world famous Houston Medical Center at Scurlock Towers, we routinely see dental patients who travel from Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, Beaumont and Midland Texas to see Dr. Dale Brant, Dr. Charles Campbell or Dr. Elizabeth O’Sullivan-Winslow for their cosmetic denistry services.
