Get Best TMJ & Sleep Apnea Treatment in Kolkata

OSA describes an effort to breath, but there is a physical obstruction of the airway causing sleep apnea syndrome. It may be caused by a collapse of the soft tissue at the back of the mouth and in the throat, sometimes related to the inability to properly breathe through your nose. If the jaw is too small to accommodate the tongue, the tongue has a tendency to fall back, further restricting your airway. This constriction impedes airflow. As you inhale and exhale, the soft tissue of the throat vibrates and causes the sound of snoring. This tissue gets flabbier over time. In more severe cases, when apnea occurs - you literally stop breathing for 10 seconds or more. When breathing stops, blood oxygen levels fall forcing the heart to work harder, causing blood pressure to rise. While this may disturb the sleep cycle, the person often does not fully wake up but feels tired in the morning. Some of the conditions associated with Obstructive Sleep Apnea include high blood pressure, obesity, heart disease, gastric reflux, depression, and diabetes. While OSA contributes to these conditions, they in turn worsen OSA, forming a vicious cycle. It is important to note that you don’t have to be overweight to have OSA.

Common sleep apnea symptoms include Snoring, Fatigue, Waking up Tired, Weight Gain, Dry Mouth/Throat, Sleepiness, Difficulty Concentrating, Irritability.

If a young child habitually mouth-breathes or exhibits any of these indications, it is especially important to have them evaluated as these conditions have a significant negative impact on development and form of oral-facial structures. It is also interesting to note that some studies have shown that sleep disordered breathing is common among children diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

Because of the potentially serious aspects of sleep apnea, you should start with a medical examination and evaluation of your condition. Talk to your dentist who can refer you to a qualified physician with specialized training in the field of sleep medicine. Evaluation can range from an examination of your airway to an overnight sleep study called a Polysomnogram (PSG), followed by treatment that could be in tandem with your dentist.

In some cases, surgery to remove obstructions or to stiffen the flabby throat tissue may be recommended for treatment. For cases of severe sleep apnea, Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) is often the first choice for treatment. This means wearing a mask while sleeping that is connected to a small device that maintains a positive air pressure, pushing air into your lungs. However, although painless and effective, some patients and their partners do not tolerate sleeping with CPAP machine very well. In those cases, and in many moderate cases,oral appliances are often a good choice.

Sleep apnea medicine specialist can make custom fitted oral appliances that are worn over the teeth at night to prevent the jaw from falling back during sleep, keeping the airway open. There are many designs of such appliances, and your TMJ specialist will recommend the best one for your sleep apnea treatment.

One of many designs is pictured here as an example. They can be very valuable in moderate cases of OSA or when the patient cannot tolerate CPAP.

If you or someone you know exhibits any of the tmj symptoms listed in this pamphlet, be sure to bring it to our attention. Dental World is the best TMJ treatment clinic in Kolkata and can provide further information for you about this potentially serious condition. You could save a life!