Obstructive sleep apnea is a sleep condition that causes the sufferer to periodically stop breathing throughout the night, wreaking havoc on sleep quality and contributing to chronic fatigue, impaired function throughout the day, and cardiovascular issues. The condition is strikingly common, disrupting sleep for roughly one billion adults worldwide.
Maybe you tried the CPAP, but it’s just too uncomfortable to wear while trying to fall asleep. Rest assured, there is a better path to a good night’s sleep that doesn’t involve an obnoxious machine. At the Orthodontists Associates of Western New York, we’re passionate about using orthodontics and oral appliances to effectively treat your sleep apnea and help you achieve restful slumber.
Orthodontic Causes of Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Many patients are surprised to hear that orthodontics and oral appliances can play such a significant role in treating 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 influencing 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 might 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 also contribute to sleep apnea. When the upper jaw is much further forward than the lower jaw, it compresses the airway tissues.
Other conditions, such as excess weight, increase the amount of fat and soft tissue around the neck and jaw, contributing to OSA in tandem with these other characteristics.
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. We find that orthodontics and oral appliances are a secret weapon of sorts in the fight to overcome OSA.
Sleep Apnea Treatment Options From Your Orthodontist
Just as OSA is often caused by anatomical factors, orthodontics and oral appliances 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 and lower jaws, improving airflow.
If your overbite contributes to your sleep apnea, we might recommend correcting it using a Herbst appliance. This device slowly corrects the bite by applying persistent pressure to push the jaw forward over time. Once we successfully move the jaw forward, you should notice improved airflow.
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 work with you.
We have seen some success with specialized devices for adult orthodontic corrections. 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? A restful sleep without the CPAP is possible, with the right orthodontic intervention. Expanders and the Herbst appliance correct underlying structural issues, while mandibular advancement devices 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 treating your sleep apnea. 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.
