Snoring and OSA

Do you or your partner suffer from breathing difficulties during sleep such as snoring or obstructive Sleep Apnoea? You might be pleased to know that dentistry may have a solution for you. A variety of oral devices or mouthpieces are now available that will address your snoring problems. By preventing the lower jaw from dropping back during sleep, these devices can prevent the closure of your airways, which will stop you from snoring. Your dentist can fit one of these for you. Here is how the treatment works:

1. A custom-made mouth piece is made from impressions taken of your teeth to ensure they fit you comfortably.
2. Made from a hard wearing plastic, the mouthpiece is worn at night and works by holding the bottom jaw in a slightly forward position.
3. This position opens up your airway significantly, allowing you to breathe better and as a result sleep better too.
4. Do you or your partner suffer from breathing difficulties during sleep such as snoring or obstructive Sleep Apnoea? You might be pleased to know that dentistry may have a solution for you. A variety of oral devices or mouthpieces are now available that will address your snoring problems. By preventing the lower jaw from dropping back during sleep, these devices can prevent the closure of your airways, which will stop you from snoring. Your dentist can fit one of these for you.

If you or your bed partner has any of the symptoms of obstructive Sleep Apnoea you will need to be referred to a specialist sleep physician for more investigation and diagnosis before treatment is started.

Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) is the name of a group of problems related to jaw movement and pain in and around the jaw joints. In most cases the symptoms are mild and tend to come and go without getting worse. Some people though develop long lasting (chronic) symptoms which may affect their talking, eating, swallowing, and overall well-being.

As the joints and muscle problems are so complex, finding the correct diagnosis and treatment sometimes may take some time.

The most common reason for developing TMD is the muscle tension, often triggered by stress. This develops the habit of teeth clenching and grinding, most commonly at night time. That leads to jaw muscle tiredness and a cycle of muscle spasm, tissue damage, pain, more muscle soreness, and more spasm. Other reason could be a trauma in the area, diseases like osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, problem with the way the jaw is shaped.

TMD can lead to facial pain, headaches, discomfort and clicking when biting or chewing, migraines as well as neck and shoulder pain, and even back pain.

If you recognise any of these symptoms or suffer with these on a daily basis, you will need to see a dentist to treat your problems or to refer you to a specialist if necessary. Treatment can include the following:

1. Impressions of your teeth are taken to create a customised plastic appliance that fits over your teeth and is worn at night.
2. When the device is worn, your teeth are in a position where your facial muscles are relaxed, preventing grinding and taking the pressure off your TMJ.
3. The device also protects the teeth, preventing them from becoming worn down by grinding.

Depending on the origin and severity of your problem, you may need orthodontic treatment or maxillofacial surgery. Other solutions may include replacing missing teeth or adjusting any ill-fitting bridgework that you may have. The most important thing to do is to see your dentist as soon as possible so that your problem does not become worse over time and require more drastic measures to correct.