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Personalized Treatment for Better Breathing, Better Sleep, and Better Health
Sleep apnea is more than snoring. When breathing repeatedly stops or becomes restricted during sleep, it can prevent your body and brain from getting the restorative sleep they need.
The good news is that sleep apnea is treatable and you have more options than ever.
At Dallas Sleep Health, we take a personalized approach to sleep apnea treatment. Rather than assuming one treatment works for everyone, we consider your sleep study results, symptoms, airway anatomy, overall health, weight, lifestyle, and treatment preferences to develop a plan that fits your needs.
Our sleep apnea treatment options include CPAP/PAP therapy, oral appliance therapy, medical weight management including GLP-1 medications when appropriate, and hypoglossal nerve stimulation.
There is no single “best” treatment for every patient with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
The right treatment depends on several factors, including:
The Established Treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea
CPAP, or continuous positive airway pressure, delivers a gentle stream of pressurized air through a mask to help keep your airway open while you sleep.
PAP therapy remains one of the most effective and established treatments for obstructive sleep apnea and is commonly recommended for patients with moderate-to-severe OSA.
Modern PAP devices can automatically adjust pressure and provide treatment data that helps your sleep team determine how well your therapy is working.
Have moderate or severe obstructive sleep apnea
Experience excessive daytime sleepiness
Have frequent nighttime breathing disruptions
Snore loudly or regularly
Have sleep apnea associated with other health concerns
Want a highly effective non-surgical treatment
You are not alone.
Mask discomfort, air leaks, pressure intolerance, nasal congestion, dry mouth, and difficulty adjusting to PAP are common concerns.
If you’ve struggled with CPAP, don’t assume that treatment has failed. Mask changes, pressure adjustments, humidification, troubleshooting, and additional support can make a significant difference.
And if PAP still isn’t right for you, other treatment options may be available.
A Comfortable, Mask-Free Treatment Option
Oral appliance therapy uses a custom-fitted dental device worn while you sleep. The appliance helps reposition the jaw and/or tongue to help keep the upper airway open.
For appropriately selected patients, an oral appliance can provide an effective alternative to CPAP without a mask, tubing, or pressurized air.
Oral appliances may be particularly appealing to patients who have difficulty tolerating CPAP or prefer a smaller, portable treatment.
Have obstructive sleep apnea
Cannot tolerate CPAP
Prefer an alternative to CPAP
Travel frequently
Want a small and discreet treatment
Have appropriate dental and jaw anatomy
A custom, adjustable appliance and appropriate follow-up are important. Your treatment should also be objectively evaluated to determine whether the appliance is effectively controlling your sleep apnea.
Addressing the Connection Between Weight and Sleep Apnea
Weight and obstructive sleep apnea are closely connected.
For some patients, excess weight can contribute to narrowing and collapse of the upper airway during sleep. Losing weight may improve the severity of sleep apnea and can also provide important benefits for overall health.
At Dallas Sleep Health, medical weight management can be incorporated into a comprehensive sleep apnea treatment plan when appropriate.
GLP-1–based medications, including medications that act on both GLP-1 and GIP pathways, can help eligible patients manage obesity by reducing appetite and increasing feelings of fullness.
In December 2024, the FDA approved tirzepatide (Zepbound) for adults with obesity and moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea, in combination with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.
This development has opened a new avenue for treating sleep apnea in appropriately selected patients.
Have obesity and obstructive sleep apnea
Have struggled to achieve sustainable weight loss
Have weight-related health concerns
Are interested in medically supervised weight management
Want to address both sleep apnea and overall metabolic health
Weight-management medication does not automatically replace CPAP, an oral appliance, or other OSA treatments. Your sleep apnea may still require treatment while weight loss is occurring, and follow-up testing may be appropriate as your health and weight change.
A Mask-Free, Implantable Treatment for Selected Patients
Hypoglossal nerve stimulation is an implantable treatment for certain adults with moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea who cannot use or tolerate PAP therapy.
The system monitors your breathing during sleep and delivers gentle stimulation to the hypoglossal nerve, which controls muscles of the tongue. This stimulation helps move the tongue forward and maintain an open airway.
The most recognized system in this category is Inspire Upper Airway Stimulation.
Have moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea
Have been unable to use or tolerate PAP therapy despite appropriate efforts
Have predominantly obstructive rather than central sleep apnea
Meet the applicable anatomical and medical criteria
Meet device and insurance eligibility requirements
Not everyone with sleep apnea is a candidate for an implant.
A comprehensive evaluation is required, and the evaluation may include review of your sleep study, PAP history, medical history, and upper-airway anatomy. A procedure such as drug-induced sleep endoscopy may also be used to determine whether the pattern of airway collapse is appropriate for this treatment.
If you think you may have a sleep disorder, you don’t have to figure it out on your own.
Our team is here to help you understand your symptoms, determine whether testing is appropriate, and identify treatment options that fit your needs.
Better Sleep. Better Health. Better Life.
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