Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder characterized by shallow breaths or long pauses in breathing during sleep. These pauses and/or shallow breaths cause a disruption in your sleeping pattern, moving you from a deep sleep state to a light sleep state. Obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA, requires a medical diagnosis. There are numerous treatments available, and our team of surgeons will determine the right course of action for you.

At Utah Surgical Arts, we want all of our patients to live a healthy life. This includes during sleep—a crucial time when the brain and body recharge. When breathing is obstructed during sleep, the body and brain can suffer consequences. If you have been told that you snore loudly or have been diagnosed with OSA, contact our offices in Provo, Payson, South Jordan, or Lehi, UT, for a consultation with our experts.

Signs and Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

The most common symptom of sleep disordered breathing is loud snoring, often reported by a bed partner. Other symptoms include:

• Daytime drowsiness
• Irritability
• Waking up during sleep by gasping
• Insomnia
• Lack of concentration
• Memory loss
• Feeling depleted, even after a full night of sleep
• Depression
• Fatigue

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you may be experiencing sleep apnea. Contact our offices in Provo, Payson, South Jordan, or Lehi today to find out how our experts can help you breathe better and achieve a restful sleep.

Treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)

We will always consider nonsurgical treatment methods first. Many patients benefit from using a mouth guard during sleep or a CPAP machine to provide continuous airflow. When these methods do not solve the issue, surgical treatment may be considered. Traditional ways to treat OSA include:

• Changes in lifestyle, such as avoiding alcohol, sleeping on your side, quitting smoking, or losing weight
• Using a lower jaw advancement device, such as a nighttime mouth guard
• Using a breathing device, like a CPAP machine

We will take CBCT scans to assess the size of the airway and detect any obstructions. Prior to any surgery, we will help you select the type of anesthesia that is right for your anxiety level and surgery complexity. As oral surgeons, we are qualified to administer all forms of anesthesia safely.

The surgical procedure to correct sleep apnea may be simple enough to perform in the office, or it may require short hospitalization, depending on your condition’s severity. The procedure involves removing, shrinking, or stiffening excess tissue in the mouth and throat, or possibly resetting the position of the upper jaw, lower jaw, or both jaws to widen breathing passages.

If you believe you could benefit from surgical treatment of your sleep apnea, please make an appointment. This treatment is life-changing to those who have suffered from sleep apnea for many years, and you will notice the difference in getting a good night’s sleep right away.

AAAHC Accreditation

Utah Surgical Arts is approved by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC). This accreditation is difficult to obtain and allows our office to function as a hospital and/or surgical center. Since extensive surgeries must be performed in a surgical center, there are many instances where the patient may be unable to undergo surgery due to the high cost of the hospital or surgical center. If your surgery can be performed at Utah Surgical Arts, the cost savings may be significant. Many patients who were unable to have the procedure due to the high cost involved were able to have the procedure performed at Utah Surgical Arts. Learn More.