Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the muscles that support the soft tissues in your throat, such as your tongue and soft palate, temporarily relax. When these muscles relax, your airway is narrowed or closed, and breathing is momentarily cut off. Oral appliances are a treatment option in the management of sleep apnea syndromes. While many patients experience a complete or partial resolution of their symptoms, some do not improve or may even become worse. It is therefore imperative that physicians conduct progress evaluations while the respective dental care provider continues to make adjustments to optimize the effectiveness of the chosen appliance to properly treat and resolve the sleep apnea syndrome. This book includes the pathophysiology, diagnosis and how to manage sleep apnea.