TMD Symptom Checklist: get your pencil ready!
Stressed out? It could be affecting your oral health. Sore jaws, popping, clicking and headaches belong to a host of symptoms of Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD). If you think you may have signs of jaw joint trouble, take the pressure off! Share your symptoms with your dental team at your next visit. There could be a dentally-related solution.
Jaw joint (or temperomandibular joint) problems can develop for many reasons
- stress-related behaviors like clenching and grinding teeth
- repetitive habits like pen and pencil biting, nail biting, and gum chewing
- a misaligned jaw joint/bite
- a direct blow to the face or jaw, or a whiplash injury
- poorly fitting dentures
- erupting wisdom teeth
- worn, loose, or missing teeth
Sleep Apnea/Snoring Devices
Obstructive sleep apnea is a debilitating sleep-related breathing disorder defined as the cessation of breathing for 10 seconds or more (apnea is a Greek word meaning “without air”). During sleep, the body’s muscles relax, causing the soft tissue of the airway to collapse, obstructing the airway. The body reacts to the closure of the airway by disrupting deep sleep enough to start breathing, but deprives the sufferer of getting a “good night’s sleep.”
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) afflicts over 40 million Americans. Untreated, OSA can lead to heart disease, strokes and excessive daytime sleepiness. Did you know that over 100,000 people are killed or injured each year in crashes attributed to a driver who has fallen asleep at the wheel?
At least 80 million Americans snore (snoring is a sign of restricted airflow and impeded breathing during sleep), which can result in excessive day-time sleepiness, adversely affect the sleep quality of the snorer’s bed partner, and diminish the overall quality of life.
Treatment of OSA and Snoring: The American Academy of Sleep Medicine now recommends oral appliances as a front line of treatment for snoring and sleep apnea.