Live a Healthy, Painless Life with Sleep Apnea and TMJ Treatment
Have you been diagnosed with TMJ pain or obstructive sleep apnea? Park Avenue Dental Care offers oral appliance therapy (OAT) to manage TMJ pain and sleep apnea. Don’t live another day in pain. Schedule a treatment appointment with Drs. Gregory Duffner, Alexander Dolinar, and James J. Kreuz.
What is sleep apnea?
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a severe sleep disorder characterized by constant disruptions in breathing when sleeping. These interruptions (apneas) occur when the throat muscles relax excessively, causing a brief airway blockage. Once this happens, the brain reawakens your body briefly to restore healthy breathing. Shortly, you drift back to sleep, only for the cycle to repeat throughout the night. This constant interruption is why individuals with sleep apnea often feel perpetually tired.
So, how can you tell you have OSA? While diagnosis involves a sleep study, watch out for the following symptoms:
- Waking up with a sore throat
- Morning headaches
- Loud snoring
- Choking or gasping for air when sleeping
- Poor concentration
- Daytime fatigue and sleepiness
- Mood changes and irritability
Untreated sleep apnea can have serious health consequences. Prolonged sleep and oxygen deprivation cause your heart to overwork, putting you at risk of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and stroke. Other OSA complications include Type 2 diabetes, depression, and renal problems. If you suspect OSA, seek immediate treatment before it has far-reaching health complications.
What is TMJ pain?
Do you have persistent headaches and jaw pain that interfere with your everyday activities? The culprit could be TMJ disorder (TMD). We all have two hinge-like joints (temporomandibular joints) on either side of the face. These joints help with chewing, talking, yawning, and other functions. However, injury, inflammation, and stress can affect the proper functioning of the TMJs, causing several unpleasant symptoms.
Some symptoms include:
- Jaw soreness or tenderness
- Constant tension headaches
- Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
- Pain in the ears, upper neck, and facial region
- Popping sounds when using your jaws
- Locked jaws
- Pain when closing and opening your mouth
How do we treat TMJ pain and sleep apnea?
The first step in treating sleep apnea or TMJ pain is a comprehensive evaluation. Treatments for both conditions start with oral appliance therapy. TMD is treated with a custom-fitted nightguard, and OSA is treated with an MAD, or Mandibular Advancement Device.
Here is how oral appliances work.
- TMJ nightguard: A TMJ oral appliance prevents upper and lower teeth from getting into contact, protecting your jaw joints from teeth-grinding forces. Over time, the jaw joints may heal and “retrain” how to relax, reducing TMJ-related symptoms.
- Sleep apnea device: The customized mouthguard repositions the tongue and lower jaw to keep the airway open when sleeping. CPAP therapy is the best treatment for OSA, but if someone can’t tolerate the mask, hose, and machine, oral appliances may help with mild to moderate OSA. MADs can be comfortable, noiseless, and easy to use.
There’s no one-size-fits-all for OSA and TMJ pain treatment. We take the time to understand your specific symptoms, lifestyle, and medical history to develop a tailored treatment plan that works best for you. Our commitment is to support you until we find lasting relief and help restore your quality of life.
Do you need TMJ pain/sleep apnea relief?
Don’t let TMJ pain or sleep apnea ruin your quality of life—call (708) 792-2779 to schedule an appointment with Park Avenue Dental Care. We can’t wait to help you live a pain-free lifestyle.
