Apnea
Treatment

Sleep apnea rarely goes away without treatment. Some means of treating the disorder involve lifestyle changes and behavior modification, such as losing weight, varying your sleep position and not sleeping on your back.

Other treatment options include devices that help open up the airways, such as a dental device designed to open the throat by bringing the jaw forward. Another option is to use a machine that delivers air through a facial mask, called continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), which uses pressure to keep your airway passage open and prevent sleep apnea.

In addition, surgery is sometimes recommended to treat sleep apnea. You may be referred to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon — a dentist trained in surgery of the mouth, face and jaws. He or she may surgically place dental devices, such as splints, which help open up the airways and throat by bringing the jaw forward. In addition, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon may recommend surgically repositioning your jaws, which can successfully manage your sleep apnea.

Another type of surgery for sleep apnea is performed by an otolaryngologist — an ear, nose and throat specialist — to improve the flow of air through the nose, throat and lungs. These surgeries involve cutting or manipulating the upper airway, including the throat, tongue, jaw and nose.

Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Medical Center.
Last updated February 8, 2012