What is Inspire?
Inspire is a surgical procedure to help treat moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea. It’s an outpatient medical procedure performed by a medical doctor. The procedure takes about two to three hours and leaves you with an implanted device that moves soft tissues out of your airway as you breathe when you’re asleep.
However, Inspire treatment ends up costing more than other sleep treatment options, involves an invasive surgery requiring recovery time, and the success rate isn’t high.
How Does Inspire Work?
Inspire works on the basic assumption that your jaw rests too far back while you sleep, and your tongue falls into your airway, obstructing your breathing. This is the same principle that Oral Appliance Therapy works to correct sleep apnea, but Oral Appliance Therapy does so in a much more non-invasive way.
Inspire consists of two electrodes and a generator. The generator is implanted under your collarbone, an electrode that senses breathing is placed on the side of your chest by your ribs, and a stimulation electrode is implanted around the hypoglossal nerve of the tongue.
When the breathing electrode detects your breathing effort, it sends a signal to the stimulation electrode, which sends an impulse to your tongue, causing it to stick out and move out of your airway.
A remote is used to turn the generator on and off when going to sleep and upon waking up
You will need another sleep apnea treatment option for a few months after your surgery, as it takes one to two months of healing before you are able to use your Inspire sleep apnea treatment.
Inspire Sleep Apnea Treatment isn’t for Everyone
Not everyone is a candidate for Inspire sleep apnea treatment. To be a candidate for Inspire, you must have:
- BMI under 32
- Moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea
- Documented inability to tolerate CPAP
- Endoscopy shows you are a good candidate
- 22 years of age or older
- No significant comorbidities such as neuromuscular disease, hypoglossal nerve palsy, severe cardiopulmonary disease, or active psychiatric disease.
- No pronounced upper airway anatomic abnormalities such as large tonsils
Possible Risks & Complications
Since Inspire requires surgery, there are risks and complications to consider.
- Infection
- Bleeding
- Pain
- Nerve damage causing abnormal tongue movement (rare)
- Unsuccessful surgery resulting in unsuccessful sleep apnea treatment
If you are looking for sleep apnea treatment options, call (402) 493-4175 or make an appointment online. Our Omaha sleep dentists can review your case and help you determine the best course of action.
How much does Inspire Cost?
One of the most common questions we encounter about Inspire is about cost. The cost of Inspire sleep apnea treatment varies depending on your insurance coverage, and is subject to deductibles and coinsurance. This is a newer treatment, and your insurance may only partially cover it or not cover it at all. You’ll need to show a documented intolerance to CPAP to be considered for insurance coverage and eligible for the treatment. Without insurance, the cost of Inspire can range from $30,000 – 45,000.
Sleep Apnea Treatment Alternatives
Do you have obstructive sleep apnea? There are other non-invasive treatment options available for you.
CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine is a popular treatment for those with all types of sleep apnea, including obstructive. You’ll wear a mask over your nose and/or mouth while you sleep. The machine will push enough air to open up your airway.
Oral Appliance Therapy is an option for those with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea, or for those who decline CPAP or cannot tolerate CPAP. It’s a sleek orthotic you wear in your mouth as you sleep. It repositions your jaw forward, so your soft tissues (including your tongue) don’t obstruct your airway.
Get Sleep Apnea Treatment in Omaha, NE
If you suffer from sleep apnea, we have good news for you: you no longer need to! Call (402) 493-4175 or make an appointment online. Our Omaha sleep dentist can help you determine the best sleep apnea treatment option for you.