Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a potentially life-threatening medical disorder that affects approximately 10% of the population and is more common in males. Snoring associated with pauses or gasping, as well as daytime sleepiness, are the two most common signs of Sleep Apnea. It can also cause irritability, depression, morning headaches, memory loss, decreased sex drive and impaired concentration. Sleep Apnea progressively worsens with advancing age and/or weight gain. Left untreated, it can cause high blood pressure, cardiovascular problems, strokes and heart attacks, which may occur during sleep, as well as motor vehicle accidents due to drowsiness while driving.

Sleep Apnea is diagnosed by an overnight sleep study, usually performed at a sleep center. Initial treatment may include weight loss, change in sleep position or nasal CPAP, which stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, which is administered via a nasal mask while asleep. If these treatments are not applicable, unsuccessful or nontolerated, then Dr. Prinsell can evaluate the airway to determine the specific areas of obstruction and, therefore, propose treatment such as oral appliances or surgery that is specific for each individual patient.

Dr. Prinsell is on the faculty at the Atlanta School of Sleep Medicine and is a surgical consultant with numerous sleep centers. As Founding President of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine, President of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine and former President of the Sleep Disorders Dental Society, Dr. Prinsell is knowledgeable and experienced in oral appliance therapy. His success rate for the surgical treatment of Sleep Apnea, as reported in the medical literature, is among the highest in the world.

Dr. Prinsell reported in the Journal CHEST (vol. 116 no 6 pp 1519-1529) a 100% success rate, in a five-year 18-center clinical study, of maxillomandibular advancement (MMA) surgery in a site-specific treatment approach for obstructive sleep apnea in 50 consecutive patients. This operation, which requires an overnight hospital stay, surgically advances the jaw structures to pull forward and tighten the attached soft tissues, to open the entire upper airway - much like a "CPR jaw-thrust" maneuver. Because no incisions are in the throat or on the face, there are minimal risks of airway swelling, palatal dysfunction, or visible scars. Adjunctive non pharyngeal nasal/sinus surgery and neck lipectomy may also be performed concomitantly with MMA as a safe, single-staged operation. The results showed a dramatic improvement in the quality and quantity of sleep, blood pressure, and daytime symptoms such as sleepiness - in all cases. This 100% success rate, highest ever published in a study of this size, suggests that MMA is the most effective acceptable surgical treatment of sleep apnea, with a therapeutic efficacy equal to, but without the compliance problems associated with nasal CPAP.

Please contact our office for a reprint of this article, which also reports several other innovations in diagnostic imaging, surgical techniques, and patient care following surgery.