Posted: May 30, 2014
If you suffer from sleep apnea, it is crucial that you seek treatment. Failure to do so can place you at risk for serious health conditions such as stroke, heart disease, and diabetes.
While there are several sleep apnea treatments currently available that are very effective at preventing the airway blockage associated with this condition, many patients find these treatments to be uncomfortable. This is particularly true with CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure), a device that forces air into your throat using a mask.
If you have experienced compliance issues with sleep apnea treatments in the past, you may be thankful to know that help is on the way. The FDA recently approved a new treatment method by Inspire Medical Systems. It is the first ever implant for the treatment of sleep apnea.
The Inspire Upper Airway Stimulation therapy is a device that gets surgically implanted in your chest. It contains a tiny neurostimulation generator and a lead that stimulates the nerves which connect your ear to your jaw. This implant device can be activated at bedtime by a remote control.
When activated, the Inspire Upper Airway Stimulation therapy delivers a mild shock to the nerve in order to keep your airway open while you sleep. It is intended for use with patients who haven’t experienced success with other sleep apnea treatment methods.
According to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the Inspire Upper Airway Stimulation device resulted in a 68% decrease in sleep apnea events for patients using this treatment. In addition, patients experienced improved daytime function.
Dr. Frank is always evaluating new treatments as they become available in order to provide his Jersey City patients with the best quality dental care. If he determines that this new implant device is an effective sleep apnea treatment method, he will consider offering it as part of his services.
If you think you may suffer from sleep apnea, please contact the Center for Dental Sleep Medicine today to schedule your initial evaluation. Dr. Frank DePaola serves patients in the Jersey City, New Jersey area.
