Sleep Apnea and Snoring

Sleep apnea is a serious disorder that results in ongoing interruptions to a person’s breathing while he or she sleeps. These lapses in breathing can often occur more than 50 times within the span of an hour. The person does not wake completely, but the quality of sleep is drastically reduced. This further puts additional strain on the heart, lungs and kidneys. Patients often feel tired and have trouble staying awake and concentrating during the day. Sleep studies are used to diagnose and evaluate the severity of sleep apnea. In children, tonsillectomy is the recommended first line treatment. In adults, CPAP machines are the first line therapy. When CPAP fails, a number of surgical options may be available, with optimal nasal airway playing a key role. These will be discussed at your comprehensive, customized evaluation by our expert surgeon.

Snoring can be a terrible source of suffering for our patients. Even when medical problems, such as sleep apnea, have been ruled out, snoring alone can be embarrassing, disturbing to the bed partner and sometimes even disruptive to a marriage. Studies have shown that bed-partners of severe snores have very poor quality sleep, with partial arousals similar to patients suffering from sleep apnea. During your comprehensive evaluation, a customized and detailed plan will be formulated, which may include surgical (septoplasty, nasal surgery, throat and palate surgery) and minimally invasive options (such is Pillar™ implants and dental appliances). If the indicated service is not covered by your insurance, our dedicated staff will work closely with you to develop an appropriate financing plan.