Sleep and Airways

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea affects around 20 million Americans. This means that it's as common as adult diabetes. Unlike diabetes, OSA often goes undiagnosed. Millions of Americans spend their nights snoring and their days fatigued, and have no idea they are suffering from a serious health problem. This disorder is tough to diagnose because the symptoms often aren't recognized. Its symptoms resemble those of other diseases and health problems, Furthermore, it can't be diagnosed during a doctor's visit. In order to get a perfect diagnosis, the sufferer must do an overnight sleep study. William C. Dement, the father of sleep medicine, is quoted as saying "Sleep disordered breathing in its various manifestations is arguably the number one health problem in the U.S., and probably the world."

The most common type of Sleep disordered breathing is Obstructive sleep apnea. This is caused by a collapse of the tissue at the back of the throat that helps with breathing. It blocks the airway and keeps the sleeper from breathing properly. The sleeper may stop breathing for over ten seconds, after which they'll suck in a sharp breath. This keeps the brain from getting the oxygen it needs. Obesity, an elongated soft palate, or enlarged tonsils, underdeveloped jaw, and several factors can contribute to the obstruction of the airway during sleep.

Dental Clues in Adults

Dry chapped lips
Low tongue posture
Head forward posture
Inflamed and irritated gums
Facial decay on anterior teeth
Observing the patient mouth breathing
Long Face Syndrome
Deep bite
Narrow V shaped arches
Vaulted palate
Recessed mandible
Very small and narrow chin
Bicuspid Extractions
Crowded and crooked teeth
Grinding
Venus pooling under eyes (purplish/blue smudges under eyes)

Preventative

Guided growth and development

A non-invasive, pain free- approach to opening the airway and straightening teeth without braces. This early orthodontic approach is typically a series of appliances that address the underdevelopment of the jaw and sleep disordered breathing, which 9 out of 10 children are affected by.

Dental Clues in Children

Dry chapped lips
Low tongue posture
Head forward posture
Inflamed and irritated gums
Facial decay on anterior teeth
Observing the patient mouth breathing
Long Face Syndrome
Deep bite
Narrow V shaped arches
Vaulted palate
Swollen tonsils
Recessed mandible
Very small and narrow chin
Melting face syndrome - no clear jaw line, face and neck melt together with no definition
Crowded and crooked teeth
Very small lower third of the face
Venus pooling under eyes (purplish/blue smudges under eyes)

Dental Clues in Children

Thumb sucking
Finger sucking
Chewing on sleeve or a blanket
Tongue thrust
Reverse Swallow (when child swallows, do they use cheeks and lips to help)
Golf ball dimpling in chin
Open bite
Cross bite
No spaces between primary teeth
Does the child have difficulty with speech
Is the child excessively fidgety or hyper-active

Adult Treatment

Adult Rehabilitation

Treat the root cause of sleep apnea, not just the symptoms.

As an obstruction sleep apnea patient, you may be facing a lifetime of nightly c-pap or oral appliance use. An alternative solution is to make the jaw bigger with a nightly device used for typically 12-18 months. An underdeveloped jaw paves the way for restricted airway, prone to obstruction, especially during sleep. The genius behind our therapeutic devices is its ability to reshape and expand the oral cavity, subsequently expanding the airway. This means a more profound, more restful sleep, without the threat of airway blockage. This is a non-surgical method for correcting maxillary hypoplasia and mandibular retrognathia. It uses daytime-nighttime appliances to apply gentle pressure to the palate, gradually expanding it to the correct position. It may also involve the use of a mandibular repositioning- nighttime appliance to train the lower jaw to rest in its proper position.