Dental Sleep Medicine: The new specialty that treats sleep apnea and snoring
Sleep apnea is a potentially dangerous sleep disorder that can have serious implications for your health and well-being. It is characterized by repetitive pauses in breathing during sleep, often caused by an obstruction in the airway. These pauses can result in decreased oxygen levels in the body, disrupted sleep patterns, and various health consequences.
Here’s how sleep apnea can be dangerous:
1. Cardiovascular problems: The repeated drops in oxygen levels and the strain on the cardiovascular system during apnea episodes can increase the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and irregular heart rhythms.
2. Daytime fatigue and impaired functioning: Sleep apnea disrupts normal sleep patterns, leading to excessive daytime sleepiness, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating. This can affect your performance at work or school and increase the risk of accidents.
3. Metabolic disturbances: Sleep apnea has been linked to metabolic disorders such as insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. The disrupted sleep patterns can disrupt hormone regulation and lead to weight gain, which increases the risk of obesity and related health issues.
4. Mental health issues: Chronic sleep deprivation due to sleep apnea can contribute to mood disorders such as depression and anxiety. It can also impact cognitive function, memory, and overall mental well-being.
At Kingston Dental Clinic, we are certified in providing effective dental sleep medicine treatment for sleep apnea and snoring using anti-snoring devices and TMJ physiotherapy. Our specialized clinicians, including dentists and TMJ physiotherapist, collaborate to offer comprehensive care and improve your sleep apnea symptoms.
Our dentists have received specialized training in sleep apnea treatment and can evaluate your oral and sleeping health, and airway to determine the most suitable approach. They can provide custom-made anti-snoring devices, such as Mandibular Advancement Devices (MAD), which are designed to reposition the jaw and tongue to maintain an open airway during sleep. These devices can reduce or eliminate apnea episodes and snoring, improving your sleep quality and reducing associated health risks.
In conjunction with our dentists, our TMJ physiotherapist Hugo Dias plays a crucial role in addressing any temporomandibular joint issues and associated muscle imbalances that may impact the effectiveness or comfort of the oral appliance. They can assess your jaw function, identify any underlying problems, and provide targeted physiotherapy techniques to optimize treatment outcomes. These techniques may include exercises, muscle relaxation methods, and other therapeutic interventions tailored to your specific needs to improve the effectiveness and comfort of the appliance.
By combining the expertise of our dental sleep medicine clinicians, we can provide a comprehensive and personalized approach to treating sleep apnea at Kingston Dental Clinic. Our clinicians will work together to evaluate your condition, recommend the most appropriate treatment options, and support you throughout your treatment journey.
If you suspect you have sleep apnea or are experiencing symptoms such as loud snoring, excessive daytime fatigue, grinding or clenching, heavy and tired facial muscles or other related issues, we encourage you to schedule a consultation at Kingston Dental Clinic. Our specialized clinicians will assess your condition, discuss the available treatment options, and develop a customized plan to address your sleep apnea using anti-snoring devices and TMJ and Orofacial physiotherapy.