As we all know, breathing is essential to living. What people are less aware of is how the quality of our breathing can impact our lives, especially the breathing we do while sleeping. An automatic process, we don’t often give much thought to respiration. As for our breathing during sleep, that is even harder to think about since we are usually unaware of it. That is why many people suffer from sleep-related breathing disorders without even realizing it. They think they snore too much or feel tired without knowing why, but never connect it to their breathing. Everyone needs to know the symptoms of these disorders, as it may be the only way they realize they need treatment. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common sleep-related breathing disorder that we treat. It is caused when something obstructs the airway during sleep, preventing air from reaching the lungs. This most commonly occurs where the soft palate meets the base of the tongue, as there are no rigid structures to hold the airway open. OSA tends to be thought of as a condition adults get, but even infants can have the condition. In fact, many children diagnosed with behavioral and attention problems actually have OSA. Enlarged tonsils and undersized structural elements of the maxilla/nose, mouth, and throat may lead to childhood OSA. OSA cannot be diagnosed and treated at home. It is a potentially life-threatening disease. Anyone exhibiting signs of the condition needs treatment as soon as possible. The patient will need to undergo a polysomnography or home sleep test. We will assist our patients with coordinating these tests with the proper professionals.
TMJ & Sleep Therapy Centre of Kansas City offers a type of treatment called dental sleep medicine. This is the management of medically diagnosed sleep-related breathing disorders through the use of appliance therapy in adult patients and orthopedic orthodontics for airway development in pediatric patients. The TMJ & Sleep Therapy Centre of Kansas City team is highly trained in dental sleep medicine.
After diagnosing an adult patient with a sleep-related breathing disorder, we will craft a comprehensive plan that is precisely tailored to their needs. The plan can include:
There are more than 100 unique appliances that are FDA approved to treat obstructive sleep apnea. We understand the pros and cons of each and will be able to determine which is right for your treatment. We use highly sensitive equipment to measure the airway, predict how it will improve, and create custom appliance designs. With our ongoing guidance, you can achieve long-term success.
The most common signs that an adult has OSA are unexplained daytime sleepiness, restless sleep, and loud snoring, especially if that snoring is followed by a period of silence, then gasping for breath.
Additional symptoms of sleep apnea include:
Adults who are male, obese, older, have upper airway abnormalities, a family history of sleep apnea, use alcohol or sedatives, smoke, or have hypertension are more likely to have sleep apnea than others.
The therapies used for OSA treatment in adults are not safe to use with children. These treatments have been shown to arrest skeletal development in children, leading to numerous problems and disabilities. However, we are able to treat OSA in children, not just offering a temporary solution, but correcting it for life. At TMJ and Sleep Therapy Centre, we approach all pediatric cases with the goal of increasing the airway volume. We evaluate the airway, address any obstructions we find, and then use orthopedic orthodontics to guide growth and ensure the airway becomes and remains sufficient for life. Procedures we might use include jaw expansion, myofunctional tongue and lip exercises, and lifestyle changes. Pediatric treatment has a high success rate but the condition in children is significantly underdiagnosed. All children should be screened for OSA as a precautionary measure.
Obstructive sleep apnea causes a type of suffocation, which can manifest in behavioral, learning, and developmental problems.
Symptoms include:
Children with undiagnosed OSA are frequently misdiagnosed as having ADHD and placed on unnecessary medications.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment.
TMJ & Sleep Therapy Centre of Kansas City is affiliated to TMJ & Sleep Therapy Centre International with now over 60 centres in 7 countries that are practicing utilizing Dr. Olmos standardized practice parameters.
