Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs when the throat becomes blocked during sleep. This blockage causes the airway to collapse and prevents the lungs from getting enough air. Individuals with OSA stop breathing for ten seconds or more at a time. This can occur up to several hundred times every night due to repeated collapse of the airway. Symptoms of OSA include snoring, tiredness, sleepiness, memory and judgment problems, irritability, difficulty concentrating and personality changes. A sleep study is used to diagnose OSA.

Palatal (roof of the mouth) implants are intended to stiffen and change the airflow characteristics of the soft palate tissue. The change is intended to reduce the incidence of airway obstructions for individuals with mild to moderate OSA. The implant devices are tiny, braided polyester threads. A delivery tool comprised of a handle and needle assembly allows for positioning and placement of three implants in the soft palate at the back of the roof of the mouth. The procedure is performed under local anesthetic in an outpatient setting.

• More than 20 million Americans, approximately one in four men and one in ten women, are estimated to have some degree of OSA. Individuals currently undergoing treatment for OSA are probably less than 500,000.
• Continuous positive airway pressure is considered the standard of care for the treatment of OSA. 
• Long-term scientific studies are not available to evaluate the effectiveness of palatal implants for the treatment of OSA.

There is no scientific evidence available to indicate that the use of this technology will help you live longer.

Will palatal implants improve my quality of life?

Long-term scientific evidence is not available to show whether or not use of this technology will improve your quality of life.

How safe is this for me?

How safe are palatal implants for me?

More information, including data from well-designed scientific studies, is needed to determine the safety of palatal implants. Implantation of any foreign body into the mouth increases the chance for infection.

Scientific studies that compare palatal implants to alternative treatments for OSA are not available.

Alternative treatments for OSA include:

Lifestyle changes for an individual with mild OSA include:

• Eliminating evening alcohol and sedatives
• Losing weight
• Avoid sleeping on your back

Non-surgical alternatives for an individual with OSA who does not respond to lifestyle changes include:

• Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), which is considered the standard of care for the treatment of OSA. CPAP includes wearing a mask or nasal prongs connected to an air pump over the nose (or nose and mouth) during sleep.
• Oral appliances are usually a good alternative for people who cannot tolerate CPAP.

Invasive surgical alternatives for an individual with OSA who does not respond to conservative treatment (lifestyle changes, non-surgical alternatives) include:

• Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP), which is the tightening of the soft tissue and removal of the uvula located in the back of the throat
• Tonsillectomy
• Surgically moving the tongue or jaw
• Tracheostomy, which is a surgical opening through the neck into the windpipe (reserved for extreme cases when all other treatments have failed)

The cost of palatal implants varies. An estimate of the cost for the procedure is $2,500.

The cost may or may not be covered by your health benefits plan.

The following are off-site links :