Obstructive sleep apnea is a sleep condition that causes a person to periodically stop breathing throughout the night, worsening sleep quality and contributing to chronic fatigue, impaired daytime function, and cardiovascular issues. The condition is strikingly common, disrupting sleep for roughly one billion adults worldwide.
Maybe you’ve tried the CPAP, but it’s just too uncomfortable to wear while trying to fall asleep. Rest assured, a better night’s sleep doesn’t always involve an obnoxious machine. At the Orthodontists Associates of Western New York, we’re passionate about using orthodontics and oral appliances to address sleep apnea symptoms and help you achieve restful slumber.
Orthodontic Causes of Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Many patients are surprised to hear that orthodontics and oral appliances can help address symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). But once you better understand common structural causes of the condition, the benefits of seeing an orthodontist for your sleep troubles become clear.
You might not realize it, but your jaw shape and bite alignment influence airflow and breathing by affecting where soft tissue rests while you sleep at night.
When the upper jaw is too narrow, the tongue can’t rest easily on the roof of the mouth. Patients may be more likely to sleep with their mouths open at night, which can lower the tongue’s position and contribute to OSA. When the lower jaw is too narrow, the tongue might fall back at night, creating a similar effect.
Deep overbites or certain jaw relationships can also contribute to airflow issues. When the upper jaw sits too far forward relative to the lower jaw, the relationship between the two may reduce airway space.
Other conditions, such as excess weight, increase the amount of fat and soft tissue around the neck and jaw.
It can be very frustrating when jaw, bite, and soft tissue issues affect your ability to rest at night. But our practice is happy to help you overcome these problems with orthodontics and oral appliances.
Sleep Apnea Treatment Options From Your Orthodontist
Just as OSA is often caused by anatomical factors, orthodontics and oral appliances may help address those underlying physical issues.
When narrow jaws are the culprit, we might recommend palatal expanders to widen the jaw. By applying continuous pressure to the palate, expanders alter the shape of the upper jaw, improving airflow.
If your overbite contributes to a constricted airway, we might recommend correcting it using a Herbst appliance. This device slowly corrects the bite by applying persistent pressure to move the jaw forward over time. Afterward, you may find that airflow has improved.
Based on our experience, these orthodontic interventions tend to be more effective in kids because their bones are naturally more malleable. But if you’re an adult struggling with sleep apnea because of jaw or bite issues, we can still help you. We have seen success with specialized devices for adult orthodontic correction. In some cases, we may recommend surgical orthodontics along with expanders and other appliances to improve outcomes.
But not every appliance needs to permanently influence your jaws or bite. For example, mandibular advancement devices simply position your jaw forward to keep your airway open while you sleep. They look and feel like a bite guard, but they could help you achieve significant improvement in sleep quality.
If you want to achieve better rest for a healthier life, take a moment to consider our alternatives to the CPAP in a free consultation. When you come into our practice, we will examine the structure of your jaw and check your bite alignment to explain exactly which interventions could help you sleep more easily.
Ready To Rest Easy Without a CPAP? Book a Free Consultation
Are you tired of dealing with your sleep apnea? If you struggle to tolerate CPAP, you may benefit from oral appliance therapy as a form of sleep apnea treatment. Expanders and the Herbst appliance correct underlying structural issues, while mandibular advancement devices may improve airflow throughout the night.
At the Orthodontists Associates of Western New York, we want to help you enjoy a healthier future. That means improving your sleep quality by addressing sleep apnea symptoms. We don’t charge until the start of treatment. So, schedule a free consultation at any one of our seven offices to learn how we can address your sleep apnea.
