Sleep Dentistry

Sleep disorders are a very common phenomenon in today’s society and often times they can be eliminated by a simple appliance made by your dentist.

Sleep apnea is a common and serious sleeping disorder that happens when your regular breathing is interrupted during sleep. Snoring is common among patients with sleep apnea but not all snorers have sleep apnea.

There are two main types of sleep apnea:

• Obstructive sleep apnea. The more common form, it is the result of blocked airflow during sleep, usually when the soft tissue at the back of the throat collapses while you sleep. Health factors, such as obesity may contribute.
  
• Central sleep apnea. Results from a problem with how the brain signals the breathing muscles. The airway is not blocked, instead the brain fails to signal the muscles to breath. This type of sleep apnea can occur with conditions such as heart failure, brain tumors, brain infections, and stroke. 
  

Sleep apnea can affect any one at any age, although men are more likely to develop the disorder. The risk is also greater for those:

• over 40
  
• overweight
  
• with large tonsils, large tongue or small jaw
  
• with a family history of sleep apnea
  
• with a nasal obstruction due to a deviated septum, allergies or sinus problems.
  

If left untreated, sleep apnea can result in a number of health problems including:

• high blood pressure
  
• stroke
  
• heart failure, irregular heartbeat and heart attack
  
• diabetes
  
• depression
  
• worsening of ADHD.
  

Sleep apnea can be treated. There are several options:

• Adjusting sleeping habits. This may mean simply not sleeping on your back
• Continuous positive air pressure (CPAP). This is a device which improves breathing while you sleep. The device supplies air through the nasal passages and the air pressure keeps the airway open while sleeping.
• Oral appliances. Certain oral devices can shift and support the jaw to prevent the airway from collapsing. Research shows that oral appliances can successfully prevent sleep apnea in some mild to moderate cases.
• Surgery. According to the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, upper airway surgery may be recommended when other treatment options are unsuccessful in eliminating the symptoms of sleep apnea. Depending on the location and nature of the airway obstruction, the procedure may be minimally invasive or more complex. It may be necessary to remove the tonsils or other parts of the soft palate or throat.

Mouth Guard Information:

How to Stop Grinding Teeth at Night

Teeth grinding, also known as bruxism, is a very common problem, from which millions of people suffer every day. Grinding your teeth at night is not only an annoying habit that can irritate someone sleeping next to you, but it can cause damage to your teeth and TMJ in the long run. Some of these consequences include loosening your fillings, causing facial pain and swelling and removing enamel from your teeth, which can lead to teeth sensitivity and more severe problems. Here are a few suggestions on how to stop grinding teeth at night.

Stay Relaxed
For some, teeth grinding is a result of stress. Before going to bed, consider taking a nice hot shower or, if you have some extra time, spend half an hour soaking in a bubble bath to wash away some of the problems of the day. Warm compresses can also be soothing. You could also ask your significant other for a massage before bed or curl up with your favorite book to help relax your body. What is great about this approach is that it addresses the source of the problem as directly as possible and doesn't have to cost you anything. There are many ways to unwind; you just have to make time to do it.

Wearing a Night Guard
A night guard is a dental appliance that can be worn over your teeth while sleeping to stop teeth grinding. It looks like a plastic mouth guard for athletes, but is made using a harder material. Depending on which type of night guard your dentist creates, you may wear one on either your upper or lower teeth. Your dentist will conduct a thorough dental exam to determine which type of guard is best suited to your needs.

Night guards have been proven to be very effective. This approach addresses the grinding itself but does not treat the source of the grinding behavior, so you may find that you have to wear the guard at night indefinitely. You should always brush your teeth before inserting your night guard in order to avoid trapping food particles that will cause bacteria to form around your teeth and gums.

Many people don't realize that they have a problem with grinding their teeth. To best figure out how to stop grinding teeth at night, you should call our office and make an appointment to be properly diagnosed.    

If you have problems sleeping, it may be sleep apnea. Talk to Dr. Herber and he can determine if an oral appliance can help you.