Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)and Sleep Disorder Therapy
Imagine waking up refreshed. We are here to help. TMJ & Sleep Therapy Centre of Chicago provides dental sleep medicine. Dental sleep medicine is the management of medically diagnosed sleep-related breathing disorders (sleep apnea, snoring) using oral appliance therapy for adults and orthopedic orthodontics for airway development or correction for children. The doctors of TMJ & Sleep Therapy Centre of Chicago are specifically trained and experienced in dental sleep medicine.
So many processes in our bodies are related to a properly functioning breathing system. Discover how the disruption of silent, nasal breathing can affect digestion, brain function, mood, behavior, attention, growth, clenching, grinding, crowded teeth, heart health, circulation, posture, mouth pain, head pain, body pain, mobility, numbness, tinnitus, balance, metabolism, table manners, and more. With an in-depth examination using the latest in 3D technology, your or your child’s airway and neurological status will be evaluated by our team of doctors.
What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)?
Apnea refers to “no breathing”. Obstructive Apnea is when something blocks your airway preventing you from breathing. It is one of 4 things: nasal obstruction, soft palate collapse; tongue obstruction or collapse of the airway in your throat.
What are symptoms of OSA?
Restless sleep | Frequent awakening at night | Having to get up to go to the bathroom at night | Daytime sleepiness | Mood disturbance
Pseudo ADHD in children | Learning problems | Snoring | Periodic Leg Movement | Forward Head Posture | Chronic pain
What is Oral Appliance Therapy?
At the TMJ & Sleep Therapy Centre of Chicago, we provide oral appliances to address your specific needs to breathe better at night. We have a variety of different appliances, each with a specific design to fit your specific problem. The unique part of our OSA FDA approved appliances is that they will also help heal or keep your TMJ healthy. We will not cause TMJ problems as many appliances do.
Sleep Services for Adults
Once a patient has been diagnosed with a sleep condition, recommendations for treatment can include behavior and lifestyle changes, Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT) wear Continuous Positive Airway Pressure device (CPAP), and surgery. OAT is often the option for treatment. These appliances can be very effective for patients who suffer from snoring and mild to moderate sleep apnea. Oral appliances may also be recommended for the severe sleep apnea patients who are unable to tolerate using CPAP.
There are over 100 different appliances approved by FDA for treating sleep apnea. Although these appliances have an appearance similar to mouth guards, they are unique and require specific design, fabrication and customized fittings to achieve successful treatment results through proper positioning of the lower jaw and tongue. The doctors of TMJ & Sleep Therapy Centre are specifically trained and experienced in oral appliance therapy. They utilize advanced technology and specialized equipment to measure the airway, predict improvement, and determine custom appliance designs. The doctors monitor patient care for success and efficacy in treatment results. To maintain success, the appliances require regular follow-up and monitoring. Any patient considering oral appliance therapy (OAT) for sleep apnea or a sleep related breathing disorder should seek care from a dentist specifically trained and experienced in dental sleep medicine and custom appliance design fabrication.
Sleep Services for Children
Orthodontics/Orthopedics for Treatment of OSA
Adult therapies for the management of OSA are not suitable for children. Therapies such as Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) and Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT) have been known to arrest skeletal development of the growing child. The good news is, with proper diagnosis and communication between medical and dental providers, Pediatric OSA can be cured!
Orthodontics for Airway Development
At TMJ & Sleep Therapy Centre, an increase in airway volume is always our goal in the treatment of Pediatric OSA. The airway is evaluated and any obstructions are addressed. Obstructions can occur anywhere in the airway and are not limited to the mouth and nose. Common procedures in airway development involve upper and lower jaw expansion and relationship changes, myofunctional tongue and lip exercises and lifestyle changes. Orthopedic airway development has a very high success rate in pediatric patients.
Pediatric obstructive sleep apnea is a prevalent but under-diagnosed disease. The importance of screening for OSA in every child has recently been re-emphasized by the American Academy of Pediatrics Guidelines.
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