Snoring, Sleep Apnea and TMD

Is It Snoring & Sleep Apnea?

Snoring
Snoring is the result of tissues in the throat relaxing enough that they partially block the airway and vibrate, creating a sound. Depending on an individual’s anatomy and other lifestyle factors such as alcohol consumption and body weight, the sound of the vibration can be louder or softer.

Sleep Apnea
Loud frequent snoring is one of the indicators of Obstructive Sleep Apnea or OSA, which is a chronic condition characterized by pauses in breathing or shallow breaths during sleep. When people with OSA fall asleep, they can stop breathing for a few seconds to a minute or more. Both conditions can be caused or made worse by obesity, large tongue and tonsils, aging and head and neck shape.

Book A Snoring Or Sleep Apnea Dental Consultation

If you or your partner is a frequent loud snorer, stops breathing, gasps or chokes during sleep, experiences excessive restlessness at night or feels sleepy during the day, you may want to bring it up with Dr. Randy Singh, Dr. Marty Sekand, Dr. Ken Jandoo or Dr. Steven Schneider to see whether a sleep study is necessary. Taking this first step to get tested prior to beginning any treatment prevents inaccurate self-diagnosis, inadequate treatment or premature dismissal of the problem.

Treatment With Snoring & Sleep Apnea Appliances

Oral appliances have a definite role in the management of sleep apnea and/or snoring. The appliance will not cure the apnea or snoring but works non-surgically to realign the jaw and tongue to keep the airway open. Custom-made mandibular advancing appliances are small acrylic devices that fit over your upper and lower teeth to advance the lower jaw forward and open up the airways. Sleep appliances are affordable, non-invasive, easy to use, and effective at improving breathing, reducing snoring/sleep apnea and quite well accepted by patients. Ask us if we can help you get a better night’s rest today!

TMD Therapy

Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMD), commonly known as TMJ disorder, is a complicated group of conditions, often characterized by pain and limited mobility in the jaw and surrounding tissue.

What Is The Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ)?

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is one of the most important joints in your body. It is the hinge joint that connects the lower jaw (mandible) to the temporal bone of the skull, which is immediately in front of the ear on each side of your head. You can actually feel it if you place your finger in front of your ears and open and close your jaw. The joints are flexible, allowing the jaw to move smoothly up and down and side to side and enabling you to talk, chew, and yawn. Muscles attached to and surrounding the jaw joint control the position and movement of the jaw.

What Causes TMD?

The cause of TMD is not clear, but dentists believe that symptoms arise from problems with the muscles of the jaw or with the parts of the joint itself. Injury to the jaw, temporomandibular joint, or muscles of the head and neck -such as from a heavy blow or whiplash -can cause TMD.

Other Possible Causes Include:

Grinding or clenching the teeth, which puts a lot of pressure on the TMJ
Dislocation of the soft cushion or disc between the ball and socket
Presence of osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis in the TMJ
Stress, which can cause a person to tighten facial and jaw muscles or clench the teeth

TMD Symptoms May Include The Following:

Pain in the jaw muscles
Pain in the neck and shoulders
Chronic headaches
Jaw muscle stiffness
Limited movement or locking of the jaw
Ear pain, pressure, fullness, ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
Painful clicking, popping or grating in the jaw joint when opening or closing the mouth

TMD Symptoms May Include The Following:

Pain in the jaw muscles
Pain in the neck and shoulders
Chronic headaches
Jaw muscle stiffness
Limited movement or locking of the jaw
Ear pain, pressure, fullness, ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
Painful clicking, popping or grating in the jaw joint when opening or closing the mouth

How Is TMD Diagnosed?

Because many other conditions can cause similar symptoms to TMD -including a toothache, sinus problems, arthritis, or gum disease –Dr. Randy Singh, Dr. Marty Sekand, Dr. Ken Jandoo or Dr. Steven Schneider will conduct a careful patient history and physical exam to determine the cause of your symptoms before making any treatment recommendations. Treatment often begins with a form of splint or nightguard but may differ depending on the severity. Ask us how we can help treat your TMJ symptoms!