Sleep apnea and TMJ treatment in Florida
Orthodontic treatment isn’t just about creating a beautiful smile. At Lach Orthodontic Specialists, we look after your health too, and that includes the treatment of TMJ and sleep apnea.
What is
sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that makes it difficult to breathe while you sleep. This could be due to a number of factors such as jaw positioning, issues with the throat or soft palette, or even improper brain signals.
If you have sleep apnea, you probably aren’t getting enough air when you sleep. This makes your sleep less restful for both you and the people around you – because people with sleep apnea usually snore quite loudly!
What is TMJ?
TMJ stands for “temporomandibular joint,” and is used colloquially to describe pain and disorders with your jaw joint. If you regularly experience pain in your jaw after eating or sleeping, or hear a clicking or popping sound when you open and close your mouth, you may have TMJ.
How sleep apnea and TMJ are connected
Medical studies have recently made a connection between sleep apnea and TMJ. As we mentioned above, issues with jaw positioning are one of the causes of sleep apnea. About half of people with TMJ also have trouble sleeping, and suffer from obstructive sleep apnea.
If your body isn’t getting enough air at night, it will naturally want to push the jaw joint forward to open the airways. This back and forth movement can cause pain and tension in the jaw joint, and even exacerbate your sleep apnea in the process.
Sleep apnea and TMJ treatment in Lake Nona & Oviedo, FL
Doctor Lach has extensive experience in diagnosing and treating sleep apnea caused by TMJ. He can do an exam of your bite, jaw muscles, and jaw joint to tell if TMJ dysfunction is the cause of your disorder.
If you have TMJ, Dr. Lach can treat it through splint therapy to determine the most comfortable jaw position for your mouth. He can also try advanced mandibular treatments to create permanent structural changes for your jaw.
Sometimes, correcting a dysfunctional jaw shape completely corrects sleep apnea as well. While you are undergoing jaw treatment, Dr. Lach can recommend a removable snoring device to reduce snoring and improve your quality of sleep.
It’s time to rest easy
If you or someone you love is suffering from sleep apnea, please give us a call. Our team has years of experience diagnosing and treating TMJ-related sleep apnea, so you’re in safe hands with us. Contact us today to schedule an appointment in Lake Nona or Oviedo.
