If you have a sleep apnea diagnosis, you might have several questions. One of the questions at the front of your mind might be whether it will go away if you do not get treatment. Read on to learn more about this problem. Several treatment options are available.
Sleep apnea episodes happen when part of a patient’s airway collapses or is blocked during sleep. Usually, this happens because of a person’s anatomy. For example, a nasal septum in the nose that is out of place can prevent the proper airflow. If the jaw or tongue fall back during sleep, the patient’s airflow may also be interrupted. People who have large tongues are more likely to have this problem during sleep.
Sleeping on the back is another reason that the tongue or the jaw might block the airway. Using alcohol before sleep can also weaken the muscles in the throat and cause sleep apnea episodes. Smoking can also contribute to this. A patient must take each of these conditions into account when considering whether sleep apnea can go away on its own.
In general, sleep apnea is a chronic condition. This means that it is ongoing and that without treatment, it will not go away. The anatomy of an individual is usually fixed and unchanging. This means that children who are still growing may grow out of the condition, but adults will not grow out of it.
After an individual has stopped growing, there are still treatment options that are available. For example, oral surgery is an option if anatomy is causing sleep apnea. One of the more successful of these surgeries is surgery to advance the lower jaw. This type of surgery can help treat sleep apnea in up to 80% of individuals. In this surgery, the oral surgeon will break the jaw and move it forward. It will be fixed in place using plates and screws.
However, many individuals who have sleep apnea do not want to have surgery. A surgery to move the jaw forward like this is invasive and often takes months to heal from. During this time, an individual will be very restricted on the foods that they can eat. The good news is that there are many other nonsurgical options. For example, a dental appliance can have similar results to jaw advancement surgery.
A dentist can customize an oral appliance to the patient for maximum comfort. This appliance will be worn every night to ease the lower jaw forward. This will prevent it from falling into the airway.
Sleep apnea cannot go away on its own. However, the good news is that you can get non-invasive treatment for the condition from your dentist. A customized mouthguard can provide comfort while you sleep to prevent apnea episodes. Visit your dentist today to learn more about how this device can benefit you.
Request an appointment here: https://stonecanyondental.com or call Stone Canyon Dental at (972) 996-3191 for an appointment in our Sunnyvale office.
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