Orthodontists in Canada and the US treat more than 4 million patients.
These dental care professionals do a lot more than just beautiful smiles. Did you know that orthodontists can also help treat a potentially dangerous sleep disorder called sleep apnea?
If you’re suffering from sleep apnea, your orthodontist in Mississauga might be able to help with your condition. And if you’re not sure if this is causing some of your sleeping problems, we can also help diagnose it.
Keep reading to learn more about sleep apnea and why you should contact GD Orthodontics.
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder. It’s characterized by breathing that stops and starts while sleeping.
Some symptoms of sleep apnea include:
Loud snoring
Gasping for air while you sleep
Times where you stop breathing while sleeping (usually noticed by another person)
Dry mouth upon waking up
Difficulty staying asleep
Headaches in the morning
Being excessively fatigued during the day
Irritability
Sleep apnea is a potentially serious condition that can even be dangerous in some cases.
Types of Sleep Apnea
There are three types of sleep apnea.
Obstructive sleep apnea is when your throat muscles relax so much during sleep that your airway becomes blocked. It also occurs from other obstructions of the airway.
Central sleep apnea has to do with your brain. While you sleep, your brain should be sending signals to the muscles that control your breathing. When it doesn’t send the proper signals, you may develop central sleep apnea.
If you have both obstructive and central sleep apnea, your condition is known as complex sleep apnea.
Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common of the three types of sleep apnea. This is also the type of sleep apnea that an orthodontist can treat.
How Does Orthodontic Treatment Help Sleep Apnea?
There are many ways an orthodontist can help treat obstructive sleep apnea. If the airway obstruction is the result of tooth misalignment, jaw misalignment, or a dental arch issue, there are quite a few treatments that can help alleviate the condition.
Braces and aligners are one way to realign teeth and portions of the jaw that may be cause an obstruction. These treatments take time as the devices realign the structure into a position where they don’t block the airway.
Some devices help to keep the jaw in a better position while you sleep. A mandibular advancement splint realigns your jaw while you sleep and widens your airway to make it easier to breathe.
In children, an orthodontist may choose to use a rapid plate expander. This device also helps to widen the jaw and open the airway.
For some patients, orthodontic surgery may be an option. The lower jaw, chin, tongue, and other soft tissue surgeries may help alleviate any obstructions.
Contact Your Orthodontist, Mississauga for More Information
If you have sleep apnea, you should receive treatment right away. Orthodontic treatment may be a good option for you if the obstruction to your airway is caused by your teeth, jaw, or dental arch.
But it’s important that you find an orthodontist in Mississauga with the experience required to treat sleep apnea. GD Orthodontics are those professionals. Please book your free consultation with us today.