Affordable Appliances for Bruxism & Sleep Apnea

If you are waking up in the morning with an awful headache, you may not realize that it is your jaws that are busy clenching and grinding your teeth while you sleep. Other dental addressable problems experienced at night include disorders such as snoring and sleep apnea. Common to all is the need for well fit oral appliances (e.g., mouth guards) that adjust your bite for improved airway passages or teeth grinding avoidance. At Smiles by Design, Dr. Sajoo can help diagnose and fabricate devices to treat such sleep disorders so you wake free of headaches and related jaw pain.

Bruxism

Bruxism could permanently damage teeth, causing them to crack or wear down prematurely. If left untreated, bruxism can result in abnormal wear of the teeth and extreme jaw muscle discomfort. If you feel you suffer from this disorder, Dr. Sajoo can outfit you with a mouth guard that fits over your lower set of teeth and prevents the two sets of teeth from grinding against each other.

Snoring and Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a disruption of breathing while asleep. Like bruxism, most people don't know they have sleep apnea. Besides its impact on sleep deprivation, sleep apnea deprives our bodies of oxygen, thereby leading to potentially serious health consequences. Some warning signs and symptoms of sleep apnea include frequent silences during sleep; choking or gasping during sleep to get air into the lungs; loud snoring; waking up in a sweat; or sudden awakenings to restart breathing. A mouthpiece may help some people who have mild sleep apnea. The mouthpiece will adjust your lower jaw and your tongue to help keep your airways open while you sleep. In addition to treating sleep apnea, these mouth pieces may also help alleviate snoring.

For more severe cases of sleep apnea, Dr. Sajoo may recommend continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). A CPAP machine uses a mask that fits over your mouth and nose, or just over your nose. The machine gently blows air into your throat. In some extreme cases, patients may benefit from surgery that widens the breathing passages. It usually involves removing, shrinking, or stiffening excess tissue in the mouth as well as resetting the lower jaw.

If you believe you are suffering from sleep disorders, call 954 563-0606 for a complimentary consultation.