Getting a good night’s sleep is essential for your overall health and well-being. If you often wake up tired, snore loudly, or feel exhausted during the day, you might be experiencing sleep apnea, a common but serious condition that affects millions of Americans. At Premier Orthodontics & Dental Specialists, Dr. Corina Radu offers advanced orthodontic and surgical solutions that improve breathing, restore restful sleep, and enhance facial harmony.
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea occurs when breathing repeatedly stops during sleep, often because the airway becomes blocked. Each pause in breathing can last for several seconds, interrupting deep sleep and leaving you tired and unfocused the next day.
There are three main types of sleep apnea:
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Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA): Caused by a physical blockage in the airway.
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Central Sleep Apnea (CSA): Occurs when the brain fails to signal breathing muscles properly.
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Complex Sleep Apnea: A combination of both OSA and CSA.
Common Signs and Symptoms
If you or a loved one experience the following, you may have sleep apnea:
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Loud snoring or choking during sleep
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Gasping for air at night
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Morning headaches or dry mouth
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Excessive daytime sleepiness or difficulty concentrating
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Mood changes or irritability
Sleep apnea is more than just snoring; it can increase the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and chronic fatigue if left untreated.
Risk Factors for Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea is more common in males than females, and more common in older adults (40+) than younger adults and children. However, anyone, regardless of gender or age, can suffer from sleep apnea.
Other risk factors include obesity, smoking, drinking, use of sedatives or tranquilizers, and family history. Central sleep apnea strikes most often in people with heart disorders, neuromuscular disorders, strokes, or brain tumors.
Is Sleep Apnea Dangerous?
Sleep apnea is a serious medical problem. If left untreated, it can lead to high blood pressure and increased risk of heart failure and stroke. The ongoing state of fatigue caused by sleep apnea can lead to problems at work or school and danger when driving or operating heavy machinery.
Sleep apnea can also cause complications with medication or surgery; sedation by anesthesia can be risky, as can lying flat in bed after an operation. If you know or suspect you suffer from sleep apnea, let your family doctor know before you take prescribed medication or undergo surgery.
Advanced Treatment Options for Sleep Apnea: MARPE, SARPE, MMA
Jaw surgery for Airway Issues
Maxillary and Mandibular Advancement MMA to treat severe OSA
Jaw surgery can expand and reposition upper jaw, lower jaw or both, to :
-improve airway space, correct severe bite issues
-Enhance facial harmony, balance and beauty.
In more severe cases, jaw positioning may significantly affect breathing and airway function. We see this in patients with severe overbites or underbites with constricted arches that either never had any orthodontic treatment growing up or were camouflaged and not treated to correct skeletal discrepancies. Usually a sleep study will give us a lot more information, and for those patients non-compliant with a CPAP, diagnosed with severe OSA Obstructive Sleep Apnea, when MARPE/ MSE + orthodontic treatment alone is not enough, surgical orthodontics may be needed. This is when we recommend SARPE and or MMA (Maxillary and Mandibular Advancement), done in conjunction with two or three piece maxillae, to expand and advance at the same time both jaws.
Some of our patients chose a hybrid approach, they start in traditional braces presurgery, then move to clear aligners after surgery, others go through the whole process either only in braces or only in clear aligners. These cases are very predictable, and after surgery all the bony segments are plated for long term stability. Patients are given the option to have the plates and screws removed if desired, after complete healing. All incisions are done inside of the mouth, in the area of where the wisdom teeth are. Two days in the hospital for post-op recovery and monitoring is all that is needed. Proper communication is maintained with the other specialists, at all times.
In most cases, the cost of the surgical procedures is coverd by Medical Insurance, or greatly reduced if no insurance. The full recovery will take a few months, with most patients returning to work after 3-4 weeks.
Moving both jaws forward and expanding the upper jaw, in the context of facial balance and harmony will tremendously improve airway volume, breathing and cure sleep apnea. Many of our patients reported a decrease from 80+ hypoxic episodes a night down to 5 -7 after MMA surgery. That is very powerful!
Dr. Corina Radu, Board Certified Orthodontist in Elmhurst and Downers Grove works closely with surgeons to coordinate and implement interdisciplinary orthodontic-surgical treatment that is customized to individual patient’s needs. Her niche is adult complex orthodontic treatment.
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Lifestyle and Orthodontic Support
For mild to moderate cases, simple lifestyle changes can help improve breathing during sleep:
Maintain a consistent sleep schedule
Avoid alcohol or sedatives before bed
Sleep on your side instead of your back
Maintain a healthy weight through exercise
When lifestyle changes aren’t enough, airway orthodontics can provide lasting improvement by addressing the structural causes of restricted airflow.
Why Choose Premier Orthodontics for Sleep Apnea Treatment?
Patients across Downers Grove and Elmhurst choose Premier Orthodontics for our:
Expertise in airway-focused orthodontics and sleep-related conditions
Advanced 3D imaging and digital scanning technology
Collaboration with medical sleep specialists
Customized treatment plans for adults and children
Compassionate, patient-centered care
Real Smiles, Real Stories
FAQ
What Are the Benefits of Airway Orthodontics?
Airway orthodontics doesn’t just straighten teeth it provides a range of health and functional benefits, including:
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Opening the airway for easier breathing
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Reducing or eliminating snoring
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Supporting better oxygen flow during sleep
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Improving posture and jaw alignment
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Enhancing long-term oral and overall health
Is Airway Orthodontic Treatment Painful?
Most patients experience only mild pressure or temporary soreness as their teeth and jaws adjust. Any discomfort is short-lived and can be easily managed with over-the-counter medication.
How Soon Will I Notice Results from Treatment?
Many patients start to experience better breathing and improved sleep within the first few months. Full results develop gradually as jaw alignment and airway space continue to improve throughout treatment.
How Long Does Airway Orthodontic Treatment Take?
Treatment duration varies based on individual needs but typically ranges from 12 to 24 months. The process is gradual and focused on long-term health benefits.