Many people don’t know that sleep apnea is something that can be treated by your dentist. One major symptom of possibly having sleep apnea is snoring. If you are experiencing this sign of sleep apnea, then it would be worth mentioning it to your dentist. This is because they will be able to provide you with the proper mouth gear or treatment plan that is most appropriate to help treat your sleep apnea symptoms.
Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
Sometimes sleep apnea can be hard to diagnosis mainly because the symptoms of sleep apnea often mirror the symptoms of other health conditions. However, sleep apnea should not be ignored because of the fact that it is a serious health condition. Therefore, please review these symptoms of sleep apnea:
Symptoms to look for include:
- Snoring
- Pain in neck, back and/or jaw
- Sleeplessness
- Fatigue
- Trouble focusing
- Irritability
- Headaches
After reviewing the above symptoms of sleep apnea it’s important to note that if they are ignored this could lead to more serious health problems developing. Sleep and rest is vitally important and if you are suffering from a lack of sleep and discomfort this can start to affect overall mood and your quality of life.
Examination for Sleep Apnea
Providing quality dental care does not stop at general dentistry because it can extend to sleep apnea treatment. In order to get an accurate diagnosis of sleep apnea a patient would need to make an appointment with their dentist. Doing so will give them the opportunity to have a full examination.
Treatment Plan for Sleep Apnea
If the results of your examination determine that you do have sleep apnea then a treatment plan will be developed. Please review any of the possible treatment plans that your dentist may recommend for you:
- Snore guards
- Special massages and exercises for the jaw
- Surgery
- TMJ treatment
- Sleep apnea treatment device
While sleep apnea never goes away it can be controlled with the proper customized treatment. Doing so helps decrease the severity of the symptoms and will make sleep more enjoyable for the dental patient.
Schedule A Consultation
If you think you may be suffering from sleep apnea please don’t hesitate to contact your dentist to set up a consultation. A diagnosis will lead to treatment and treatment will lead to a better sleep and rest.
