Treating Snoring with Orthodontics
You are thinking about orthodontics because there are some things you want to change in your smile. But did you know it can help with your sleep, too? We discuss how modern orthodontic treatments can help with your sleep and you smile.
Most of us think of snoring when we talk about sleep problems. Snoring is one of many symptoms common among people that have sleep problems. However, it is more than something annoying that you (or your bed partner) does. It can be indicative of a serious health condition that is undiagnosed in nearly 80 percent of the people who have it. [i] It’s called Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and, if you ignore it, it can lead to serious health complications.
The Two Main Types of Sleep Apnea
All sleep apnea cases are not obstructive. There are two main types: OSA and central sleep apnea. OSA occurs because there is a blockage in the upper airway. [ii] Central sleep apnea happens when your brain quits telling your muscles they need air. [iii] Both are serious conditions that can have the health consequences. Some people have a mixture of both types, which is called complex sleep apnea. [iv]
Sleep apnea describes any repeated, brief interruptions in your breathing for ten seconds or more.[v] People who have it are likely to snore loudly and have these brief periods during the night where they stop breathing or gasp for breath. They might also wake up with a dry mouth or sore throat and a headache. In addition, people with sleep apnea might have a hard time staying asleep during the night, experience excessive sleepiness the next day, and have problems with feeling irritable or have problems paying attention to things. [vi]
Risk Factors & Complications
Sleep apnea can affect anyone, young or old, male, or female. That said, there are some risk factors that make it more likely for you to develop. For example, more men than women have it, at 25 percent vs. 10 percent. Add to it being overweight or older than 50, and you are at an even higher risk. However, some people have more sleep apnea risk factors than others. [vii]
Some other physical traits are common for patients that have obstructive sleep apnea. People who are excessively overweight or have a large neck are at higher risk of developing the condition. Also, people with nasal obstructions, a sagging soft palate, or large tonsils have a higher risk. In addition, people with a small jaw that have an overbite are at risk for developing OSA.[viii]
Who Diagnoses Sleep Apnea and How Do We Treat It?
It is important to note that an orthodontist does not diagnose sleep apnea. Sleep apnea diagnoses are handled by your medical team. However, we screen for it as part of new patient consultation for children and adults. If we see risk factors, we might refer you to your doctor to have them confirm our concerns with an official diagnosis.
If you do get a diagnosis, you will have many treatment options, including CPAP machines, which require wearing a mask while you sleep that pushes air into your airway to keep blockages from preventing breathing. However, there are many other treatments, including oral appliances that you wear that will put your mouth in a better position to facilitate unobstructed breathing.
In addition, we might work with your medical team to provide important orthodontic adjustments to the bite or jaw repositioning to facilitate a successful treatment. We might also treat occlusal changes that can occur with long-time oral appliance wear. In some cases, you might need orthognathic (jaw) surgery to reposition the jaw.[ix]
For children, we might also handle correction of dental and skeletal abnormalities. For example, we might expand the maxilla (the upper, fixed bone of the jaw) with rapid maxillary expansion (RME, or palatal expander) and correct Class II jaw positions using a mandibular advancement appliance. These interventions may change the upper airway enough to facilitate successful follow-up treatment. We do not do corrective jaw surgery on children because the craniofacial growth is not complete. In these cases where that might be necessary, we would manage the condition until the child reaches adulthood and can have this surgery.[x]
So, you knew that modern orthodontic treatment could help with your smile. Now, you know it can also help your sleep. If you think you or someone you love might have sleep apnea, be sure to tell your doctor. Also, if we see any indications of the condition, we will discuss it with you at your consultation.
To schedule your free consultation today, call Bloom SMILE STUDIO office in GARDEN GROVE at 714-430-8454.
Bloom SMILE STUDIO in GARDEN GROVE has a long history of improving our patient’s smiles. We provide modern orthodontic treatments delivered with old-fashioned excellence in patient experience. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
[i] Sleep Apnea Information for Clinicians – Sleep Apnea. Sleepapnea.org. https://www.sleepapnea.org/learn/sleep-apnea-information-clinicians/#:~:text=A%20very%20short%20course%20on%20sleep%20apnea&text=Sleep%20disorders%2C%20including%20sleep%20apnea,severe%20obstructive%20sleep%20apnea%20undiagnosed. Accessed October 14, 2022.
[ii] Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/sleep-apnea/understanding-obstructive-sleep-apnea-syndrome. Published 2021. Accessed October 14, 2022.
[iii] Central Sleep Apnea. WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/sleep-apnea/central-sleep-apnea. Accessed October 14, 2022.
[iv] Benisek A. Sleep Apnea Basics. WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/sleep-apnea/sleep-apnea. Published 2021. Accessed October 14, 2022.
[v] Sleep Apnea: Causes, Symptoms, Tests & Treatments. my.clevelandclinic.org. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/8718-sleep-apnea. Accessed October 14, 2022.
[vi] Sleep apnea - Symptoms and causes. www.mayoclinic.org. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sleep-apnea/symptoms-causes/syc-20377631. Accessed October 14, 2022.
[vii] Sleep Apnea: Causes, Symptoms, Tests & Treatments. my.clevelandclinic.org. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/8718-sleep-apnea. Accessed October 14, 2022.
[viii] Sleep Apnea: Causes, Symptoms, Tests & Treatments. my.clevelandclinic.org. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/8718-sleep-apnea. Accessed October 14, 2022.
[ix] Behrents R. Obstructive sleep apnea and orthodontics: An American Association of Orthodontists White Paper. Ajodo.org. https://www.ajodo.org/action/showPdf?pii=S0889-5406%2819%2930278-1. Published 2019. Accessed October 14, 2022.
[x] Behrents R. Obstructive sleep apnea and orthodontics: An American Association of Orthodontists White Paper. Ajodo.org. https://www.ajodo.org/action/showPdf?pii=S0889-5406%2819%2930278-1. Published 2019. Accessed October 14, 2022.