Sleep Apnea and Orthodontics

Do you suffer from temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ/TMD)? If so, you may be at risk for obstructive sleep apnea. This condition is believed to be severely underdiagnosed, leaving many people untreated and at serious risk of sleep deprivation. However, Dr. Gregory Ross is an expert in orthodontics and dental sleep medicine, and since some people are unaware of the connection between those specialties, we want patients to know what we can do to help.

Bruxism, or nighttime teeth grinding, is often the result of the body’s air passages being blocked by the position of the tongue. As the body attempts to open a passage by moving the mandible, the teeth grind together, putting them at risk for tilting or cracking and causing pain to the temporomandibular joint. Sleep apnea also causes the patient to be taken out of deep sleep throughout the night, causing them to be fatigued the next day and increasing their long-term risk for heart disease and depression.

At Ross Orthodontics, we can provide patients with custom-fitted night guards. These oral appliances protect the teeth from being eroded or broken by night time jaw movement. Dr. Ross is also a long-time researcher of sleep apnea and can provide more complex oral appliances to better position the mandible to avoid airway obstruction. We also use orthodontic treatment to correct tilted teeth.

To learn more about Ross Orthodontics, visit Smiles by Ross. Offices are located in Forest Lake, Minnesota and Hudson, Wisconsin.

 

Night Guards for Bruxism

Bruxism is the term for any regular grinding of the teeth or clenching of the jaw.  Chronic teeth grinders often end up needing crowns, bridges, root canals and implants. In severe cases tooth loss can occur, and partial or complete dentures may be needed.  Some teeth grinders only grind their teeth while they sleep at night and may not be aware of it.  Waking up with a stiff or sore jaw could be a sign you are grinding your teeth at night and shouldn’t be ignored.  Nocturnal bruxism can be caused by underlying medical conditions such as sleep apnea. For a proper diagnosis, visit Dr. Gregory Ross, DDS for a consultation.

A custom night guard is the best way to protect your teeth from the negative effects of teeth grinding.  We provide patients with custom night guards by first taking an impression of the mouth.  This impression is used to fit a custom product that protects the grinding surfaces of the teeth and aligns the jaw, which also helps improve sleep.  Night guards are durable and with proper care can last 10 years!

To learn more about night guards and all the services we provide at our practice, visit www.smilesbyross.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Gregory Ross, DDS call our Forest Lake, MN location at 651-464-6988 or our Hudson, WI location at 715-808-8379.

TMD and Fibromyalgia

Orthodontists do a lot more than braces. At the offices of Dr. Gregory Ross, we provide treatments for people who are suffering from nighttime teeth grinding as a result of temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD or TMJD). This behavior is done in response to pain in the joint which connects the jaw to the rest of the head, but it can worsen pain in the head, neck, and shoulder. TMD is also commonly associated with fibromyalgia, which makes it important for fibromyalgia patients to get assessed for TMD.

Fibromyalgia is a disease which causes pain throughout the body and problems with cognition and memory. It is poorly understood but believed to be neurological in nature. Besides TMD headaches, fibromyalgia also contributes to migraines. It is most often seen in women, although usually in ones who are older than those who have TMD alone. There are a number of pain-management therapies available for fibromyalgia patients, but it’s important to ensure that their bite alignment isn’t compromised by night time teeth grinding without worsening their discomfort. Night guards are a useful first step toward preventing teeth grinding, and if the teeth do need realignment, Invisalign can shift them with less pressure than traditional braces.

To learn more about Ross Orthodontics, visit Smiles by Ross. Offices are located in Forest Lake, Minnesota and Hudson, Wisconsin.