When you think about sleep apnea treatment, a dentist may not be the first healthcare provider who comes to mind. However, your jaw, tongue, bite, and other oral structures can all influence your airway while you sleep. That means your dentist may have an important role to play in your sleep apnea care.
Dr. Martin takes a comprehensive approach to dentistry that considers more than individual teeth. If you have been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, dental treatment may complement care from your physician or sleep specialist and help you breathe more comfortably throughout the night.
What Does Sleep Apnea Have to Do with Your Smile?
Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when your airway repeatedly becomes narrowed or blocked while you sleep. Because the jaw and tongue are located directly around the airway, their positioning can contribute to these nighttime breathing problems.
Dentists have an in-depth understanding of the teeth, bite, and jaw. During an evaluation, Dr. Martin can examine factors such as your jaw position, bite alignment, oral anatomy, and signs of nighttime teeth grinding to better understand how your mouth may relate to your sleep concerns.
This doesn’t mean your dentist replaces your sleep physician. Instead, dental care can become one part of a larger, personalized approach to managing sleep apnea.
Your Dentist May Notice Signs You Don’t
One challenge with sleep apnea is that its most obvious symptoms happen while you’re asleep. Unless someone else notices your snoring or interrupted breathing, you might not realize there is a problem.
However, some possible warning signs can appear in your mouth or during the day, including:
- Teeth grinding or excessive tooth wear
- Dry mouth in the morning
- Frequent snoring
- Morning headaches
- Daytime fatigue
- Difficulty concentrating
These symptoms don’t necessarily mean you have sleep apnea. However, they can give you a reason to discuss your sleep quality with your dentist and physician. A formal sleep apnea diagnosis generally requires evaluation through the appropriate medical provider.
A Dentist Can Provide Oral Appliance Therapy
For some patients with obstructive sleep apnea, an oral appliance can help keep the airway open during sleep. These custom appliances typically work by gently repositioning the lower jaw to reduce airway obstruction.
Oral appliances offer several convenient features. They are small, quiet, portable, and don’t require a mask or tubing. Their compact size can also make them convenient for patients who frequently travel or enjoy Colorado’s active, outdoorsy lifestyle.
Most importantly, a professionally made appliance is customized for your mouth. Dr. Martin can consider your teeth and bite when designing and monitoring treatment rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all solution.
Oral appliance therapy isn’t appropriate for every sleep apnea case. Your diagnosis, severity of sleep apnea, oral health, and other factors all help determine whether it could be an appropriate option.
Dental and Medical Sleep Apnea Care Can Work Together
Sleep apnea treatment isn’t necessarily an either-or decision between your dentist and physician. Collaborative care allows different healthcare professionals to address different parts of the condition.
A sleep physician can diagnose sleep apnea and evaluate its severity. Depending on those findings, treatment could involve CPAP, an oral appliance, or another approach. When an oral appliance is appropriate, a dentist can customize it around your mouth and monitor how it affects your teeth, jaw, and bite.
This teamwork helps ensure that convenience doesn’t come at the expense of effective treatment.
Experience Personalized Sleep Apnea Treatment
Just as every smile is different, every sleep apnea case is different. Dr. Martin looks at the big picture when evaluating patients for dental sleep apnea treatment.
Your bite alignment, jaw position, tooth health, existing restorations, teeth grinding, and personal preferences can all affect treatment recommendations. Follow-up visits are also important because your appliance may require adjustments over time to maintain a comfortable fit.
With more than 2,000 hours of post-residency training, Dr. Martin combines extensive education with a patient-focused approach to care.
If you’ve already been diagnosed with sleep apnea or have concerns about your nighttime breathing, talk with Dr. Martin about whether dental sleep apnea treatment belongs in your care plan. Schedule a consultation to get started.
