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Sleep apnea

Description

An in-depth report on the causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of sleep apnea.


Highlights

Sleep Apnea and Heart Disease

Sleep Position and Sleep Apnea

Mouth Guards and Tongue Splints

CPAP is the best treatment for sleep apnea, but many patients find it uncomfortable and have trouble sticking to the therapy. As an alternative, some patients with mild-to-moderate sleep apnea use mouth guards or tongue splints. A 2006 review suggests that these dental devices help reduce apnea episodes in half of all treated patients. The researchers also found that, for many patients, oral devices work as well as surgery.

Pillar Implant Surgery

A relatively new surgical procedure, the pillar palatal implant, works well for treatment of mild-to-moderate sleep apnea and snoring, according to several 2006 studies. The 10-minute procedure is performed in a doctor’s office under general anesthesia and is much less invasive than uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP), the standard surgical treatment for sleep apnea.


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