Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is curable. Surgery on the jaws allows sufferers to breathe a sigh of relief in the truest sense of the word. This is because the surgical relocation of the upper and lower jaws opens the airways and thus permanently eliminates the causes of nocturnal breathing pauses.
Sleep apnea is often anatomically determined. For example, if the upper and/or lower jaw are too small or lie too far back, this can lead to a narrowing of the airway or even a complete obstruction. The result is pauses in breathing during sleep.
Permanently cure severe sleep apnea with jaw surgery
The only remedy for anatomically caused obstructive sleep apnea is surgery on both jaws. In the specially developed jaw surgery, the so-called "bimaxillary advancement" with CounterClockwise rotation, the upper and lower jaws are rotated counterclockwise and shifted forward. This causal treatment permanently removes the obstruction (narrowing of the airway) and frees you from nighttime breathing problems forever.
The greatest benefits of successful sleep apnea surgery:
- Opening of the airways
- Elimination of breathing pauses
- Improvement of the respiratory flow
- Increase oxygen saturation in the blood
- Reduction of cardiovascular risk
- Termination of snoring problems
- Increasing the quality of sleep and life
- Increasing the performance in everyday life
- Optimization of head and body posture
- Improving the appearance with facelift
Would you like to learn more benefits of the surgery? Then take a look at the testimonials of many of our patients who have already been cured of their sleep apnea.
Am I eligible for sleep apnea surgery?
Are you wondering whether your form of sleep apnea is also curable and whether you are suitable for jaw surgery? Then take the test here!
After completing the online questionnaire, we will give you an initial assessment of the extent to which sleep apnea surgery can also help you. Because the self-test is no substitute for a detailed personal consultation, we then offer you a free consultation. Either on the phone or via Zoom, we will take the time to discuss the causes of your sleep apnea, the possibility of surgery, alternative treatments if necessary, and the expected costs.
To schedule a consultation, contact us directly here.
If you want to get more information before our appointment together, you can find the answer to the question: who is eligible for sleep apnea surgery in our blog.
Alternatives to sleep apnea surgery on the jaw:
- UPPP Operation
- Multi-level therapy
- Functional septorhinoplasty
- Radio Frequency Therapy
- Laser therapy
UPPP surgery to tighten the soft palate
Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, or UPPP for short, is a surgical inpatient therapy for mild sleep apnea. During this operation, bottlenecks in the nasopharynx are eliminated by removing tissue. In addition, the troublesome uvula is tightened and soft tissue on the palate is removed.
The surgery can also reduce snoring. Unfortunately, UPPP surgery is not permanent, because the mucous membranes grow back and regenerate. The hole in the jaw is usually surrounded by new mucosa within one or two days, which makes sleep apnea more apparent again.
Multilevel therapy as a combination intervention
Another procedure to temporarily relieve the symptoms of sleep apnea is surgical ambulatory multi-level therapy. This surgery combines at least one procedure on the base of the tongue with at least one procedure on the soft palate. This can reduce the severity of sleep apnea by up to one-third.
Functional septorhinoplasty to improve nasal breathing.
Various surgeries of the nose can also improve sleep apnea. Functional septorhinoplasties, such as removal of a curvature of the nasal septum or removal of growths, optimize nasal breathing and can alleviate airway problems.
What are the surgical methods for sleep apnea?
- There are several methods to choose from for sleep apnea surgery. UPPP, uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, is a surgical inpatient therapy for mild sleep apnea. During this procedure, bottlenecks in the nasopharynx are eliminated by removing tissue. In addition, the troublesome uvula is tightened and soft tissue on the palate is removed. The surgery can also reduce snoring. Unfortunately, this surgery is not permanent. Anyone who has had a tooth extracted knows how quickly the mucous membranes grow back and regenerate. The hole in the jaw is usually surrounded by new mucosa within 1-2 days.
- Another variant is a surgical outpatient therapy, the multi-level therapy, it is a therapy that combines different surgical methods. This usually reduces the severity of sleep apnea by up to one third.
- Various nasal surgeries can also improve sleep apnea. Here, for example, the removal of a curvature of the nasal septum or the removal of growths may be considered. In the throat, slack tissue is also removed with radiofrequency or laser therapy.
- In the case of anatomical misalignments of the jaws, which in most cases are the cause of obstructive sleep apnea, only abimaxillary advancement with rotation(maxillomandibular advancement) can help. In this case, the jaws are surgically moved forward with a counterclockwise rotation and reattached.
In general, surgical sleep apnea therapy, like other interventions, is associated with risks and side effects such as bleeding, infections or pain. We will be happy to advise you in detail about the respective opportunities and risks in a personal consultation. We will be happy to explain all important aspects of this treatment to you during an initial consultation.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of sleep apnea surgery?
A surgical procedure to treat sleep apnea must be discussed in detail with the patient. The doctor can explain the chances of success and risk factors. In the case of sleep apnea, other factors such as the severity of the sleep apnea or possible obesity or the age of the patient also play an important role. It is also very important that sleep apnea surgery does not impair physical functioning. For example, patients must still be able to swallow or speak without problems. It is possible that sleep apnea surgery, with the exception of jaw realignment surgery (bimaxillary advancement), does not bring the desired success and that complaints may continue to occur afterwards.
Reasons for causal therapyUsually, as mentioned, sleep apnea surgery entails certain risks. However, a significant advantage is that after successful sleep apnea surgery, patients are no longer dependent on a respiratory mask. This improves the quality of life enormously. So far, only operations involving bone displacement and refixation have proven to be particularly successful. In contrast, operations on functional soft tissues such as pharyngeal uvula or soft palate usually bring only short-term success.
Medication is not an alternative to sleep apnea jaw surgery
With sleep apnea jaw surgery, first of all, the quality of life of people improves. In addition, independence from technical devices and aids is achieved. According to the current state of research, medication is not an alternative to the treatment of sleep ap nea with a CPAP mask, which only relieves the symptoms, or to sleep apnea surgery. In most cases, the causes of apnea can be successfully treated with the help of sleep apnea jaw surgery.