Orthodontics and Sleep Apnea

Posted On: December 29, 2016

Many people snore, but some people have sleep apnea (which is when a person stops breathing for short extended periods of time while sleeping). Sleep apnea can be a very dangerous condition that can be harmful to ones’ heart. Dental devices that are currently available are only effective for mild to moderate sleep apnea. Most of these devices are acrylic and fit inside your mouth, much like an athletic mouthguard. Others fit around your head and chin to adjust the position of your lower jaw. A common oral device given by a dentist or orthodontist is a lower jaw repositioning device. This particular device opens your airway by bringing your lower jaw/tongue forward during sleep.

It is very important to get properly fitted by a dentist or orthodontist who specializes in sleep apnea, and also to see them on a regular basis for any dental problems that may occur. You may also need to periodically have your dentist/orthodontist adjust the mouthpiece to fit better. Hopefully this will help with some restless nights! -Cammy