Orthodontic Treatment for Sleep Apnea
Although snorting while sleeping is a common thing in people of all age groups, it may not always be normal. Those who are heavy snorers might have a condition known as sleep apnea.
Snoring is the number-one indicator in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA); this is a condition that is anything but harmless. Although it can be disturbing to the sleep of your bed partners and even other members of the home when loud enough, sleep apnea can have long-term and deeply impactful effects on your life outside of the bed.
Your mental and physical health will suffer, and the effects of sleep apnea will compound over time. Once obstructive sleep apnea has been diagnosed by a medical professional, there are several orthodontic solutions that can help you regain control over your rest time.
What are the Symptoms of Sleep Apnea?
There are multiple red flags to look for when attempting to evaluate a possible case of sleep apnea. These can include:
- Difficulty breathing at night and pausing while breathing.
- Grinding and clenching teeth while sleeping.
- Frequent complaints of restlessness and poor sleeping states.
- Snoring, gasping, and choking sounds present while asleep.
- Drop of concentration during the day.
- Nightmares, night terrors, bedwetting, behavioral shifts, learning difficulties, and other secondary signs of sleep deprivation.
What Causes Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
- Enlarged oral structures that cause blockages at the back of the throat. This can include big tonsils, a large tongue, and issues such as adenoids in the back of the nose.
- Long-term allergies change the way you breathe during the night.
- Poorly-grown jaw structures that narrow your palate and create small airways that block easy airflow into the lungs.
Orthodontic Treatments for Sleep Apnea
The professionals at Fruge Orthodontics have treated cases of sleep apnea by utilizing orthodontic interventions to great success. Depending on the severity of your condition, your treatment plan will vary. Your orthodontists will help you by:
- Playing a key role in narrowing down possible issues relating to your sleeping disorders by screening you for relevant oral issues.
- Diagnose oral abnormalities at any age to treat and prevent issues from becoming worse over time; this is especially important in younger patients who suffer from sleep apnea.
- Use special orthodontics to expand your upper arch or upper jaw to provide you a better airway for breathing at night.
- Providing anti-clenching orthodontic tools for you to use at night so that you don’t grind your teeth or block your airflow.
- Provide mandibular advancement and maxillomandibular advancement force through advanced dental technologies to reduce resistance in your nasal passage and place your tongue into proper position at night.
- Utilize oral appliance therapies to better breathing in patients across all age groups; surgical procedures are available when necessary such as tonsil removal and adenoid removal.
Sleep Apnea Orthodontic Professionals
By asking challenging questions about your sleeping history and providing thorough examinations, the orthodontic professionals at Fruge Orthodontics tackle sleep apnea to give you back the pleasure of a restful night. No matter who or where you are, a good night’s sleep is never to be taken for granted, though it’s usually once it becomes a problem that it becomes sorely missed. Regain control of your sleeping with the help of our caring staff by making an appointment with us today!