Sleep apnea is a serious medical condition, and can cause a wide array of symptoms that negatively affect almost every aspect of your life.  Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is characterized by repetitive partial or total collapse of the upper airway during sleep.^[1] It is well documented that OSA is associated with a wide range of adverse health outcomes,  including high blood pressure, heart disease, heart failure, stroke, type 2 diabetes, weight gain, metabolic syndrome, adult asthma, acid reflux, brain fog, daytime sleepiness, car accidents, memory loss and depression.  

Until now, the primary methods for coping with sleep apnea have included treating the symptoms with devices like a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), mandibular advancement devices (MADs), which hold your jaw in a forward posture. Both of these treatment modalities work only as long as you wear them, but we know that many patients are not happy wearing a CPAP and that patient compliance decreases over time.  Other treatments include weight loss, which is always recommended if indicated.  And lastly, orthognathic surgery – or surgical rearrangement of your bones – which is quite invasive and costly.^[2]