Surgery First in Sleep Apnea: A Summary of 15 years of Clinical Experience

There is evidence that maxillomandibular advancement (MMA) is the most successful surgical treatment for OSAS. However, MMA through conventional surgical-orthodontic treatment comprises a pre-surgical orthodontic stage, which might not be adequate unless the patient uses a CPAP. A surgery-first approach eliminates orthodontic preparation for orthognathic surgery. This lecture will cover the diagnosis and MMA treatment planning for OSAS under the light of the 15-year clinical experience with surgery first approach.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand that sleep apnea is a serious problem and orthodontics is part of the solution.
• Recognize that conventional preparation for orthognathic surgery is inadequete for OSA patients.
• Propose proper surgical care for OSA patients.