Sleep Apnea and TMD Treatment
Sleep Apnea and TMD Treatment in Fort Wayne
Oral health also encompasses how jaw placement and alignment affect your comfort and ability to breathe properly. Conditions such as temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ-D) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can be caused by improper orthopedic conditions in the jaw that your dentist can treat in a variety of ways.
Berger Family Dentistry can evaluate your jaw health to detect any conditions that may be causing you discomfort or sleep issues. Helping people in Fort Wayne and surrounding communities, contact either Dr. Timothy Berger, Dr. Eric J. Berger, or Dr. Jonathan Robison for state-of-the-art diagnosis and treatment of jaw disorders.
Symptoms of Temporomandibular Joint Disorder and Treatment Options
Your temporomandibular joints control your ability to move your jaw, so you can chew and speak properly. If these joints are out of balance and not functioning properly, you can have painful symptoms and health complications. Some common symptoms of this disorder are:
- Headaches
- Earaches
- Locked or stiff jaw
- Facial swelling
- Popping or clicking of the jaw when it is moving
Stress can create temporary pain, but for chronic unrelenting discomfort, your dentist may recommend BOTOX injections into the trigger points of the jaw, which can provide immediate relief from TMJ-D. Sometimes orthodontic treatments or devices worn while sleeping are prescribed to properly align the jaw and to relieve pain.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea Symptoms and Health Risks
Obstructive sleep apnea is caused when soft tissues in the airway passages collapse or jaw misalignment blocks breathing. You may not be aware that you have OSA, but some signs of sleep apnea to consider include:
- Loud Snoring
- Exhaustion upon Waking
- Morning Headaches
- Gasping for Breath Upon Waking
- Dry Mouth
- Irritability Throughout the Day
Sleeping is the body’s way of strengthening its immune system and healing itself. When the body fails to achieve proper rest, there can be serious health complications. People with sleep apnea are twice as likely to have a stroke, and you are at an increased risk for heart disease, depression, high blood pressure, and upper respiratory infections.
Cutting Edge Technology for Sleep Apnea Provided at Berger Family Dentistry
At Berger Family Dentistry, we have a computer tomography scanner that takes detailed images of your airways to determine if there is any obstruction present. If you are diagnosed with OSA, the scan is sent to our in-house milling machine, which can immediately fabricate a customized oral appliance for you.
Dr. Timothy Berger and Dr. Jon Robison Diagnose and Treat TMJ-D and OSA
If you suffer either from TMJ-D or OSA, Dr. Timothy S. Berger, Dr. Eric J. Berger, and Dr. Jonathan Robison have the technology and expertise to make certain you are properly diagnosed and treated. Berger Family Dentistry designs custom-crafted appliances that restore health to your body and alleviate pain. Give their office a call in Fort Wayne today for quality dental care.