Why is OSA usually treated with PAP therapy??

[Janknitz]

They have surgery now that can correct most refractory vision errors so people don't need glasses or contacts, but a lot of people still choose glasses or contacts instead. Less expensive, less risk, and less invasive for the very squeamish among us (me!).

[DUG]

For many people with obstructive sleep apnea, we have a defective anatomical setup. For example. I have a small mouth, small chin, and very narrow airway. Typical scalloped tongue. Typical crowded teeth with removal of 4 teeth as a teenager (they know better now, but didn't then). So, I have a smaller airway to begin with. Add in allergies, inflamation, etc, and now the airway is even smaller. It doesn't take much of a collapse to block my airway.

I had 4 teeth removed, is that a bad thing?

[Slartybartfast]

Surgery's no panacea.

Sometimes the "best" treatment isn't what you or I think it should be.

[zoocrewphoto]

For many people with obstructive sleep apnea, we have a defective anatomical setup. For example. I have a small mouth, small chin, and very narrow airway. Typical scalloped tongue. Typical crowded teeth with removal of 4 teeth as a teenager (they know better now, but didn't then). So, I have a smaller airway to begin with. Add in allergies, inflamation, etc, and now the airway is even smaller. It doesn't take much of a collapse to block my airway.

I had 4 teeth removed, is that a bad thing?

Usually, it means that your mouth and jaw were probably smaller than they should be. And the standard treatment was to remove teeth to make room for the remaining teeth. They have since learned that people who have this done tend to have sleep apnea later. Not sure that it actually causes sleep apnea, but it doesn't help prevent it. People who get treatment early to enlarge their jaw instead of removing teeth have a lower rate of sleep apnea later.

So, it is more of a sign that sleep apnea is likely to show up. Removing the teeth doesn't cause sleep apnea. But other solutions may help prevent sleep apnea.

My mom has the severely crowded teeth (no braces or teeth removal as a kid). I had crowded teeth and had the braces and teeth removal. We both have severe sleep apnea because we both have a smaller mouth and jaw.

[ChicagoGranny]

People who get treatment early to enlarge their jaw instead of removing teeth have a lower rate of sleep apnea later.

+1

[DUG]

Thanks for the explanation. This is the first time I've heard that "they know better now" in reference to taking them out. Maybe they should have taken out the impacted wisdom teeth instead. Some of my once straightened teeth are a bit jammed up again and I've often wondered if the impacted wisdom teeth should be removed. But, that would make my throat even worse?

[ChicagoGranny]

Maybe they should have taken out the impacted wisdom teeth instead. Some of my once straightened teeth are a bit jammed up again and I've often wondered if the impacted wisdom teeth should be removed.

If a person has impacted wisdom teeth or crooked teeth or crowded teeth, the problem is already there. The jaw did not develop well, and there is not room for 32 straight, uncrowded teeth.

An underdeveloped jaw is the most common cause of a narrow airway. A narrow airway is more likely to collapse during sleep = sleep apnea.

Tooth extraction is not the cause of obstructive sleep apnea. It's the underdeveloped jaw.

Now, it is possibly in many cases to use orthodontics (palatal expanders, etc.) to widen the jaw and avoid tooth extraction. If the jaw can be widened enough, obstructive sleep apnea might be avoided.

[chunkyfrog]

Most of those dentists are dead and buried, and they would be spinning in place
if they knew about the effects of their actions.
I am certain mine would be . . .

[zoocrewphoto]

Most of those dentists are dead and buried, and they would be spinning in place
if they knew about the effects of their actions.
I am certain mine would be . . .

Yep. I remember back somebody talking about a lawsuit against orthodontists. I figure they didn't know back then, so while it is unfortunate, they weren't trying to cause problems. Now we know better.

And like I said, my mom did NOT get the teeth out, and her sleep apnea is as bad as mine. So, they didn't make it worse in me. They just didn't improve my odds.

[chunkyfrog]

My brother has OSA too, but I was the only one who had orthodontia, and good teeth pulled.
The only healthy teeth he lost were knocked out in a ruckus.

[jnk...]

It is my understanding that people who have smaller upper airways often also have smaller jaws. However, I am unaware of any established causation in connection with that association.

[jamesbond007]

The human body is designed to be a biologically perfect mechanism.

Your argument ends right here. You are mixing Theology and Science. You are implying that there is an intelligent designer whose job is to perfectly design homo sapiens while you are relying on Science to get your treatment. There are countless arguments in nature that disprove the idea of an intelligent design. Millions of years of trial and error has caused some unintended side effects, not only to homo sapiens but also to all living things on this planet. I would recommend some high school Biology for your perusal.

Not sure if you are trolling us here or genuinely commenting. If it is the latter, why don't you be an example and get a surgery done and donate your equipment to someone who needs it but cannot afford it? Heck, if the design is supposed to be perfect, then why even have problems with it? Isn't everything supposed to work flawlessly?

[chunkyfrog]

"The imperfect organism shall perish and fail to reproduce" . . .
Science only gets in the way.
Small wonder some of those "defective" creatures have become so creative.
Not only shall the meek inherit the earth, but the weak can have a piece as well.
Not much left for the elite, "perfect" few . . .

[Stom]

"The imperfect organism shall perish and fail to reproduce" . . .
Science only gets in the way.
Small wonder some of those "defective" creatures have become so creative.
Not only shall the meek inherit the earth, but the weak can have a piece as well.
Not much left for the elite, "perfect" few . . .

[emphasis added]

That's not what science says, so much so that *nobody* says it

"No results found for "The imperfect organism shall perish and fail to reproduce"." - Google

You can take or leave the theory of evolution through natural selection, but if we are to discuss the theory we should do so based on what it actually says. And "perfection" isn't on the list.

I think jamesbond007 went off on a bit of a tangent, making a lot of assumptions and inferences about the OP. But the OP also made a lot of assumptions, too.

[ChicagoGranny]

I think jamesbond007 went off on a bit of a tangent, making a lot of assumptions and inferences about the OP.

He did tear off on a cute little rant.