Airway Focused Dentistry
Airway dentistry is a passion of Dr. Palmer’s, that focuses on the structure of the mouth and impacts your breathing. Our dentists take a big picture look for sleep disordered breathing including looking for signs of mouth breathing while you’re sleeping. At Oak Bark Dental our airway dental specialists seek to address the airway structure problems using oral appliances, orthodontics, and other minimally invasive dental treatments.
Understanding Sleep Apnea – Sleep Apnea Symptoms and Treatments
If you snore loudly, or are having difficulty breathing while you sleep, you may be experiencing symptoms of sleep apnea. This sleep disorder consists of your breathing being interrupted while you sleep and is considered a serious health condition. Because your body and brain need a certain amount of oxygen, it is important to understand sleep apnea symptoms, classifications, and treatments.
Types of Sleep Apnea
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA): This is the most common form of sleep apnea. It is caused by the airway being blocked, usually when the soft tissue in the back of your throat collapses during the time that you are asleep.
- Central Sleep Apnea (CSA): This form of sleep apnea occurs when the brain is unable to signal the muscles to act in the way that they need in order for you to breathe. Instability in the respiratory control center may be to blame.
If you are experiencing any sleep apnea symptoms or would like to learn more about treatments for sleep apnea in Lansing, MI, please call our office at 517-393-4900 today to schedule your visit with Dr. Palmer, Dr. Beyea, Dr. Nguyen, and Dr. Grisdela.
Signs of Sleep Apnea
Determining that sleep apnea is present is the first step in overcoming it. The following conditions may indicate that you are experiencing sleep apnea:
- Snoring
- Choking sounds (as if you are restarting your breathing pattern)
- Headaches upon waking up
- Falling asleep easily during the day
- Waking up short of breath at night
- Extreme drowsiness
- Insomnia or other difficulty sleeping
Technology and Treatments
Treatments for sleep apnea range depending on each patient’s case. Basic treatments, such as losing weight, smoking cessation or sleeping on your side, may help subdue sleep apnea. If none of these treatments work, oral devices can be used to position your lower jaw in a way that can prevent your throat from being blocked.
At our practice, we are able to use a few tools to help us determine if you have sleep apnea, such as working with physician’s to conduct sleep studies.
Myofunctional Therapy
Myofunctional therapy is an exercise-based therapy. Our dentists like to think of it as physical therapy, only for the muscles of the mouth, tongue and face. Our team can show you specific exercises which are designed specifically to train more effective breathing, speaking, chewing, and swallowing.
With these therapy techniques, you train your body to rest naturally, that can help:
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Treat mouth breathing
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Change your posture while your lips closed
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Change your position while your teeth are closed
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Change your tongue muscles when resting against the top of your mouth.
Ultimately, with Myofunctional Therapy, you can transform your appearance, narrowing the arches and lengthening your facial structure to help with overall better breathing and airway control.
Other Services
Our dentists and team take continuing education classes and courses to stay up-to-date on technology and techniques that allows Oak Bark Dental to assist you with all of your dental health needs.