Dental appliance vs nasal surgery?!?

[SnoreNoMore2005]

I've been using a CPAP with nasal mask for 5 years, but my new sleep doc tells me that he thinks my main apnea problem is caused from my narrow nasal passage, deviated septum, oversize turbinates, etc. He suggests surgery to open up my nasal passage and I may not even need to use CPAP. I've heard horror stories about nasal surgery and am wondering if a dental appliance that lets me keep my mouth open so I can breath easier through my mouth might work without having to go through the pain and expense of nasal surgery.

Has anyone had this type of problem or can shed some light on this subject?

Thank you
SnoreNoMore2005

[harry33]

I suppose you could stay as you are or use a full face mask to enable mouth breathing if needed, you would need a humidifier

[ReginaJ]

I had nasal surgery 4 years ago to shave my turbinates, repair my deviated septum and to repair an old fracture that hadn't healed well. This was all before I tried CPAP. I can honestly say that the nasal surgery was not effective for me at all. I still have chronic sinus infections, I still had to go on CPAP, I still require steroids to reduce the inflammation in my nasal cavity. I have friends who swear by the nasal surgery, but for me it was ineffective. I think it is something that is hard to gauge how you are going to do with it without knowing your medical history, etc. I wish you luck if you do the surgery, but go into it knowing that it might not be the instant fix. Recovery took me about 2.5 months.

I went on BiPAP therapy about 2 years after my surgery. I started with nasal prongs, but couldn't tolerate it, so I switched to a nasal mask by resmed. I finally settled on a full face mask as the nasal masks were just too hard to breathe through with all the swelling. Since making the switch to the full face mask I have done so much better. Maybe it is worth trying out before you go to the surgical options? I haven't tried a dental appliance, so I can't speak to that, but I know that switching to the right mask made a huge difference for me.

[Wulfman]

Seems to me that the two options you're talking about are for essentially different situations. My perception of "dental devices" was to keep the mouth shut and reposition the jaw......not necessarily to keep the mouth open. Nasal breathing is more desirable.

Are you doing nasal rinses/cleansing before bedtime?

Are you using heated humidity? Too much of that can close off the nasal passages and exacerbate the problem.

Cool, "passover" humidity (no heat) can help to open up the nasal passages.

I believe I share a somewhat similar situation and the nasal cleansing and cool, passover humidification are what's been working for me.


Den

[So Well]

........ I've heard horror stories about nasal surgery and am wondering if a dental appliance that lets me keep my mouth open so I can breath easier through my mouth might work without having to go through the pain and expense of nasal surgery.

........

Dental appliances and nasal surgery are addressing two very different things. I don't have time to explain them but you should take some time to get educated about both. You have a wrong impression about dental devices (mandibular advancement devices). They are not to designed to keep your mouth open. They pull your lower jaw forward opening up the airway in the throat so you can breathe normally through the nose.

There is not a single type of surgery that you can't find people who tell horror stories. Discuss your concerns with the ENT and get a second opinion. I had my septum corrected and turbinates cut and reduced in size. As surgeries go, this one was quite easy and the recovery was quick. It turned out to be an excellent help to me.

However, don't assume nasal surgery will eliminate sleep apnea. The blockages in sleep apnea are usually in your throat (tongue and soft palate) and nasal surgery does not address this type of blockage.

[SnoreNoMore2005]

Thanks all for your advice. I was thinking if I could breath through my mouth better, it would help my limitied nasal breathing. However, most of the time my mouth is completely shut. I use a activia nasal mask now which seems to work OK, but I can tell I have limited nasal breathing. I'd like to be able to try sleeping with my mouth open, but I don't know how to keep my mouth open when I sleep since that's not my normal state.

I've tried full face masks but have never found one that give me a good seal. I think I would still have the problem even with a full face mask because if I can't breathe well through my nose and I sleep with my mouth closed most of the time, it would make sense why I'm not breathing properly causing apneac episodes.

I guess the nasal surgey would depend on how much 'clearing out' the ENT would have to do to open up your passages. It just seems like a very uncomfortable procedure to heal up from.

SnoreNoMore2005

[rustyk]

I made the transition from CPAP to Oral Appliance TAP 3 weeks ago and have been VERY satisfied. Easier to travel with, I keep it in all night. seems to work about as well for me. Am doing an unattended test shortly and will post results.

[roster]

I guess the nasal surgey would depend on how much 'clearing out' the ENT would have to do to open up your passages. It just seems like a very uncomfortable procedure to heal up from.

SnoreNoMore2005

You are not a wimp, you can handle it.

Mine was done on a Tuesday and except for heavy lifting and handstands, I was back to normal activities on Friday that same week.

[Tobitab]

i will have my nasal surgery too. mouth breathing causes me tonsilitis. Dentists Fullerton | Dentists Escondido

[roster]

i will have my nasal surgery too. mouth breathing causes me tonsilitis. Dentists Fullerton | Dentists Escondido

Your post sounds trollish, but on the chance that it is serious, I will ask a serious question.

Have you discussed with a good ENT having a tonsilectomy? There is a chance it might cure obstructive sleep apnea.

[Mac33]

Rooster....where did you have nasal surgery? have a deviated septum, enlarged turbinates and narrowed mucosa and nasal collapse....Dr Park? I live in the new york city.

[roster]

Rooster....where did you have nasal surgery?

In my nose.

[roster]

Rooster....where did you have nasal surgery? have a deviated septum, enlarged turbinates and narrowed mucosa and nasal collapse....Dr Park? I live in the new york city.

Seriously, I had a great ENT in Charlotte.

His partner was a sleep doc and he called her in to consult with me while he was present. I was impressed but it was more like, "Hey colleague, I have a patient here who is slim and athletic and needs a pressure of 19 cm." Made me feel a little bit like a bass trophy, but at my age, any attention good or bad is welcome.

If I were in NYC, I would definitely get a consultation with Dr. Steven Park. Not only about the surgery, but about the whole sleep apnea and treatment.

[Mac33]

Rooster....where did you have nasal surgery? have a deviated septum, enlarged turbinates and narrowed mucosa and nasal collapse....Dr Park? I live in the new york city.

Seriously, I had a great ENT in Charlotte.

His partner was a sleep doc and he called her in to consult with me while he was present. I was impressed but it was more like, "Hey colleague, I have a patient here who is slim and athletic and needs a pressure of 19 cm." Made me feel a little bit like a bass trophy, but at my age, any attention good or bad is welcome.

If I were in NYC, I would definitely get a consultation with Dr. Steven Park. Not only about the surgery, but about the whole sleep apnea and treatment.

Hey Rooster you've been absent lately?
Anyway I going to see Dr Park on Monday Jan 18 to have him evaluate this whole surgery apnea dilemma I'm in. I guess you rate him as a top Doc and surgeon?
any comments from all?

[roster]

Hey Rooster you've been absent lately?
Anyway I going to see Dr Park on Monday Jan 18 to have him evaluate this whole surgery apnea dilemma I'm in. I guess you rate him as a top Doc and surgeon?
any comments from all?

Mac, How did the consultation with Park go?