TMJ & Sleep Apnea Treatments

Albee Family Dental offers comprehensive care, including treatment options for TMJ and sleep apnea. Our team is dedicated to helping you achieve optimal health and wellness. Don’t suffer from TMJ or sleep apnea any longer. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and learn more about our effective treatment options.

TMJ & TMD Treatment

TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorders are actually a group of disorders that affect and impair the joint connecting the lower jaw and skull. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms below, you may have a TMJ disorder. At Albee Family Dental, we offer treatments such as night guards (bruxism splints), to meet your needs and help restore your comfort.

Because there are many causes of TMJ disorders, our treatment is personalized to each patient following a consultation with our dentist. For more information on TMJ disorders and bruxism, or to schedule your consultation, please call or visit us soon!

There are many signs and symptoms associated with TMJ disorders, including, but not limited to:

  • Changes to the bite
  • Popping or clicking when closing or opening the mouth
  • A “locked” jaw
  • Frequent migraines or tension headaches
  • Jaw pain or soreness
  • Tooth- and/or earaches
  • Bruxism (teeth-grinding)

Occlusal Appliance for Tooth Wear

For patients experiencing tooth wear due to night time grinding and jaw clenching, your doctor may recommend an occlusal appliance, commonly called a night guard or bite splint, to help alleviate the complications associated with the condition. It is not uncommon for tooth wear to be associated with certain airway or breathing conditions, so your doctor may discuss this with you as well. An occlusal appliance is a device that is worn in the mouth overnight and creates a barrier between your upper and lower teeth, eliminating the damage they cause by rubbing against each other. It also helps promote improved jaw and bite alignment which can help address uneven tooth wear. Research has shown that a well-designed hard appliance can help to relax the musculature, reducing wear even when it is not being worn. There are several designs and styles of appliances available to assist with treatment. Dr. Albee will expertly design your individualized appliance to ensure optimal bite alignment and maximum protection from additional tooth wear. Given the potential for costly dental treatments caused by untreated tooth wear, it is critical to work closely with your doctor to proactively treat the issue before more damage is sustained.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly starts and stops during sleep. It occurs when the throat muscles relax and block the upper airway during sleep. Some symptoms of sleep apnea are snoring, daytime sleepiness, depression, memory loss, gastric reflux, and high blood pressure. Patients with sleep apnea can stop breathing up to hundreds of times per evening, for time periods ranging from 5 seconds to over a minute in length. While breathing is stopped and oxygen is restricted to the heart and brain, the increased heart rate and stimulation causes the body to momentarily wake. This disruption in sleep pattern is what causes massive daytime drowsiness and exhaustion in patients. If left untreated, the constant strain placed on the heart and brain, coupled with poor sleep quality and duration, can result in serious and dangerous complications to your overall health, including heart disease, stroke, mood disorders, and accidents related to daytime drowsiness.

Sleep Appliance

For some patients experiencing obstructive sleep apnea, your sleep physician may recommend an oral sleep appliance to help alleviate the underlying symptoms and complications associated with sleep apnea which can include excessive daytime sleepiness, depression, high blood pressure, and night time teeth grinding. A sleep appliance is a device that is worn in the mouth overnight, designed to position the lower jaw slightly forward, therefore bringing the tongue forward and expanding the throat in a way that keeps your airway open to facilitate unobstructed breathing while you are asleep. There are several designs and styles of sleep appliances available to assist with treatment, all capable of being custom-fitted to the contours of your mouth. Given the potentially dangerous complications rising from untreated sleep apnea, it is critical to work closely with your dentist to develop a treatment plan that meets your unique needs and promotes your overall health.

Contact Us Today!

Hours
Monday - Thursday: 8:30am-5:00pm
Closed Daily for Lunch: 1:00-2:00pm
Friday: By Appointment

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