As one of the few dentists in the San Francisco Bay Area that treats TMJ/TMD, I have learned something that is apparent in nearly every case. TMJ is a symptom of an underlying problem. That problem is almost always some form of airway obstruction. There are exceptions to every rule and the case of trauma is the exception here. But airway obstruction is a major underlying cause of TMJ problems. Airway obstruction affects oral development, and when the mouth doesn't form ideally, bite problems and TMJ are often the results. As I have come to recognize this, I have discovered an extraordinarily large number of patients who are at high risk for Obstructive Sleep Apnea or who already have it. OSA is a serious condition that can be life threatening because patients stop breathing in their sleep. OSA patients are also at higher risk for heart attacks and stroke--and they have a 20% shorter average life span.
Josh Bernstein, DDS
Until recently, the treatments for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) have been:
1. UPPP surgery, where the back of the throat is treated to create more airway.
2. The Pillar Procedure, where tiny implants are used to support the soft palate to keep it from collapsing into the airway.
3. Jaw Advancement Surgery (MMA) where the upper and lower jaws are moved forward to create more room.
4. Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy to remove tonsils and adenoids to create more airway.
5. Sinus/nasal surgery to allow easier breathing through the nose.
6. C.P.A.P. machines to force air into the lungs during sleep. (Like life support.)
Some of these surgeries have high success rates. Some do not. And surgery always carries risk. Then again, so does OSA. CPAP machines are an effective non surgical option, but many patients don't like sleeping with a mask on, so they don't use their CPAP machine. So what is a nice non-surgical option that has a high success rate?
There is a dental appliance called the Somnodent, made by Somnomed that is very effective and is as easy to wear as a dental bite guard. Somnodent is a Mandibular Advancement Splint (M.A.S.). As you may have learned if you have taken C.P.R., one of the ways to open the airway is to jut the jaw forward. Somnodent opens the jaw slightly and brings the lower jaw forward, effectively opening the airway.
Somnodent is an excellent option for patients who snore or who have Obstructive Sleep Apnea. It is easy for the patient to have a Somnodent made here in our office. All it takes is simple dental impressions and bite records. For more information on Somnodent. Or just call our office.
Josh Bernstein, DDS
Founder and President, Dental Comfort Academy
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