Obstructive Sleep Apnea Treatment: Breathe Easier, Sleep Better

Are you constantly tired during the day, even after a whole night’s sleep? Do you snore loudly or wake up gasping for air? You may be experiencing obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a common but serious sleep disorder. Effective OSA treatment can restore your energy, protect your health, and help you get the restful sleep you deserve.

What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when your upper airway collapses or becomes blocked during sleep, causing breathing to stop and start repeatedly. These pauses can last 10 seconds or longer and may happen hundreds of times per night, depriving your brain and body of oxygen.

Common Signs and Symptoms of OSA

Many people are unaware they have sleep apnea, but its effects are hard to ignore. Watch for these common symptoms:

• Loud, persistent snoring
• Waking up gasping or choking
• Excessive daytime sleepiness
• Morning headaches
• Difficulty concentrating
• Irritability or mood changes
• High blood pressure

Health Risks of Untreated OSA

Leaving OSA untreated can lead to significant health risks. When your body is deprived of oxygen night after night, it puts immense strain on your cardiovascular system and overall health. Potential long-term consequences include:

• Heart disease and heart attack
• Stroke
• Type 2 diabetes
• Depression
• Increased risk of car accidents

You don’t have to live with poor sleep. Effective treatment is available—and it starts with a proper diagnosis and personalized care.

Our OSA Treatment Options

We provide advanced, personalized solutions to manage obstructive sleep apnea. Our focus is on practical, comfortable alternatives that fit your lifestyle, moving beyond traditional CPAP machines for many patients.

Custom Oral Appliance Therapy: A CPAP-Free Solution

We create a custom-fitted mandibular advancement device—a small, mouthpiece-like appliance worn only during sleep. It gently holds your lower jaw forward to keep your airway open.

While CPAP machines are effective, studies show that real-world adherence can be low. Oral appliances often win on comfort and consistent use, leading to similar long-term health benefits for many patients.

Why Patients Choose Oral Appliance Therapy:

• Silent & portable – no noisy machines or hoses
• Effective for mild to moderate OSA¹
• Easy to travel with
• Improves snoring and daytime energy
• Often covered by medical insurance

Oral Appliances vs. CPAP: A Quick Comparison

Aspect	Oral Appliances (OAT/MAD)	CPAP
Efficacy in Reducing AHI	48–67% reduction in mild–moderate OSA; ~62% in severe	Greater reduction (up to 75%); more effective overall
Comfort & Ease of Use	Mouthpiece-like; silent, portable; no hoses/masks	Mask with machine; can feel bulky/noisy
Compliance/Adherence	Higher (often >80% long-term use)	Lower (50–60% consistent use due to discomfort)
Side Effects	Mild jaw discomfort, dry mouth (usually temporary)	Nasal congestion, skin irritation, claustrophobia
Best For	Mild–moderate OSA; CPAP-intolerant patients	Severe OSA; first-line for high-risk cases
Health Outcomes	Comparable to CPAP in sleepiness, blood pressure, quality of life	Superior in severe cases but equivalent with good adherence

In short, while CPAP may edge out in raw efficacy, oral appliances often win on real-world adherence—leading to similar long-term benefits for many patients.

Orthognathic (Jaw) Surgery for Severe OSA

For patients with severe OSA due to a recessed jaw or a narrow airway, we offer maxillomandibular advancement (MMA) surgery in partnership with oral and maxillofacial surgeons.

This procedure moves both the upper and lower jaws forward, permanently enlarging the airway and often curing sleep apnea.

Jaw surgery for sleep apnea may be right for you if you:

• Have severe OSA not improved by CPAP or oral appliances
• Are suffering from significant jaw retrusion or skeletal imbalance
• Failed previous treatments
• Desire for a long-term, mask-free solution

Several meta-analyses showed that jaw surgery has a positive effect on people who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea. ¹³-15

Your Step-By-Step Treatment Journey

We guide you through every step of your OSA treatment journey with a personalized, step-by-step approach.

• Comprehensive Evaluation

 We would tailor our discussion towards addressing these specific needs during your comprehensive orthodontic consultation. This will involve completing a questionnaire to screen for OSA.

• Personalized Treatment Plan 

Choose the best option: oral appliance, jaw surgery, or a combined approach. We work with sleep physicians who will interpret your sleep study, and will connect you with an oral and maxillofacial surgeon if needed.

• Treatment & Support

 – Oral appliance: Custom fitting and adjustments

 – Surgery: Pre-surgical orthodontic treatment + coordinated care with surgeons

Take the First Step Toward Restful Sleep

Schedule your OSA consultation today!

We’ll review your sleep study (or help you get one), explain all your options, and create a plan tailored to you—no pressure, no obligation.

Most medical insurance plans cover oral appliances and sleep apnea evaluations. We’ll help you navigate coverage.

References:

1. Sutherland K, Vanderveken OM, Tsuda H, et al. *Oral appliance treatment for obstructive sleep apnea: an update*. **J Clin Sleep Med**. 2014;10(2):215-227. doi:10.5664/jcsm.3460

2. Liao J, Shi Y, Gao X, et al. *Efficacy of Oral Appliance for Mild, Moderate, and Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Meta-analysis*. **Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg**. 2024;170(5):1270-1279. doi:10.1002/ohn.676

3. Liu T, Li W, Zhou H, et al. *Verifying the relative efficacy between continuous positive airway pressure therapy and its alternatives for obstructive sleep apnea: a network meta-analysis*. **Front Neurol**. 2017;8:289. doi:10.3389/fneur.2017.00289

4. Rotenberg B, Muraru D, Pang KP. *Trends in CPAP adherence over twenty years of follow-up: a comprehensive review of the literature*. **Sleep Med Rev**. 2016;25:72-80. doi:10.1016/j.smrv.2015.05.003

5. Marklund M, Carlberg B, Forsgren L, et al. *Oral Appliance Therapy in Patients With Daytime Sleepiness and Snoring or Mild to Moderate Sleep Apnea: A Randomized Clinical Trial*. **JAMA Intern Med**. 2015;175(8):1278-1285. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2015.2051

6. Rotenberg B, Muraru D, Pang KP. *Trends in CPAP adherence over twenty years of follow-up: a comprehensive review of the literature*. **Sleep Med Rev**. 2016;25:72-80. doi:10.1016/j.smrv.2015.05.003

7. Iftikhar IH, Cistulli PA, Jahrami H, et al. *Comparative efficacy of mandibular advancement devices in obstructive sleep apnea: a network meta-analysis*. **Sleep Breath**. 2023;27(4):1365-1381. doi:10.1007/s11325-022-02739-8

8. Alajmi M, Mulgrew AT, Fox J, et al. *Impact of continuous positive airway pressure therapy on blood pressure in patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials*. **Lung**. 2010;188(2):95-103. doi:10.1007/s00408-009-9204-9

9. Ramar K, Dort LC, Katz SG, et al. *Clinical Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Snoring with Oral Appliance Therapy: An Update for 2015*. **J Clin Sleep Med**. 2015;11(7):773-827. doi:10.5664/jcsm.4858

10. Epstein LJ, Kristo D, Strollo PJ Jr, et al. *Clinical guideline for the evaluation, management and long-term care of obstructive sleep apnea in adults*. **J Clin Sleep Med**. 2009;5(3):263-276. *(Note: Updated AASM guidelines 2017/2021 reaffirm CPAP as first-line; see reference 14.)*

11. Bratton DJ, Gaisl T, Schlatzer C, et al. *CPAP vs mandibular advancement devices and blood pressure in patients with obstructive sleep apnea: a systematic review and meta-analysis*. **JAMA**. 2015;314(21):2280-2293. doi:10.1001/jama.2015.16303

12. Phillips CL, Grunstein RR, Darendeliler MA, et al. *Health outcomes of continuous positive airway pressure versus oral appliance treatment for obstructive sleep apnea: a randomized controlled trial*. **Am J Respir Crit Care Med**. 2013;187(8):879-887. doi:10.1164/rccm.201212-2223OC

 

13. Walker A, et al. *Maxillomandibular Advancement Safety and Effectiveness in Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis*. **Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg**. 2025;172(4):1142-1154. doi:10.1002/ohn.1114

14. Zhou, Ancheng, Hongjin Li, Xudong Wang, Jiner Zhang, Yuanxiang Zhang, Jianwei He, and Shaofeng Liu. “Preliminary comparison of the efficacy of several surgical treatments based on maxillomandibular advancement procedures in adult patients with obstructive sleep apnoea: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.” European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology 278, no. 2 (2021): 543-555.
15. Zaghi, Soroush, Jon-Erik C. Holty, Victor Certal, Jose Abdullatif, Christian Guilleminault, Nelson B. Powell, Robert W. Riley, and Macario Camacho. “Maxillomandibular advancement for treatment of obstructive sleep apnea: a meta-analysis.” JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery 142, no. 1 (2016): 58-66.

16. **Updated AASM Guidelines (2017/2021 reaffirmation)** Kapur VK, Auckley DH, Chowdhuri S, et al. *Clinical Practice Guideline for Diagnostic Testing for Adult Obstructive Sleep Apnea: An American Academy of Sleep Medicine Clinical Practice Guideline*. **J Clin Sleep Med**. 2017;13(3):479-504. doi:10.5664/jcsm.6506

**Additional Supporting Guidelines**

– American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) & American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine (AADSM). *Clinical Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Snoring with Oral Appliance Therapy* (2015, reaffirmed 2021).

– International Consensus Statement on Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Chang JL, et al. **Int Forum Allergy Rhinol**. 2023;13(7):1061-1482. doi:10.1002/alr.23188