Bear Creek Dental

Friday, May 25, 2018

Sleep Apnea and TMJ Connection

Did you know that headaches and snoring could be related? Did you know your dentist could help with both problems? The doctors of Bear Creek Dental in Grande Prairie have experience treating a variety of oral health problems. One of their skills is fabricating custom-fitted night guards to protect patients from sleep apnea and bruxism.


Obstructive sleep apnea is what happens when a person’s airways become clogged when they lie down. This is what causes snoring. In an attempt to keep the airways open, the body moves the jaw around, which puts pressure on the teeth and jaw joint. The joint which connects the lower jaw to the skull is technically called the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), and it’s one of the most complex in the body. When it is under strain, people can suffer symptoms ranging from headaches and ringing in their ears to shoulder pain and difficulty opening their mouths. They are also likely to suffer pain in their teeth, which are being worn down and, in the worst cases, might crack.


A custom fitted night guard helps solves all these problems by keeping the teeth of the upper and lower jaw from coming into contact with each other at night. The airways are less likely to be obstructed, removing the need to move the jaw, and the teeth aren’t being directly worn down.


Bear Creek Dental is located at Unit 201 10015 102 Ave, Grande Prairie, Alberta, T8v 0z8, Canada. To schedule an appointment, call 780-539-0404 or visit Bear Creek Dental.


 

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