Why Should I See a Dentist for Sleep Apnea Treatment?

If you have sleep apnea and have struggled with CPAP therapy, you may feel frustrated or confused about your options. The good news is that oral appliance therapy may be able to help. What many patients don’t realize is that for this treatment, you’ll need to see your dentist instead of your doctor. While that may seem a bit strange, it’s really not. In fact, here’s why this connection makes so much sense!

Why Should I See a Dentist for a Sleep Disorder?

Like many people, when you think of a dentist, you likely think about someone who treats your teeth and gums, not necessarily a sleep disorder. But when you really consider it, seeing a dentist for help with sleep apnea makes a lot of sense. First, your dentist is a specialist in upper respiratory health. This means they have a keen understanding of the airway and how it’s supposed to work and can assist you in treating it when it’s not performing correctly.

Another benefit of seeing a dentist for sleep apnea treatment is that they are also well versed in caring for the jaw. This means that they understand its proper positioning and are qualified to help customize an orthotic that not only helps prop your airway open but does so without harming your jaw in the process.

Your dentist may also offer other treatment options such as Nightlase, which while it will not replace sleep apnea treatment, may work well in conjunction with it to help you get a more quiet, restful slumber.

Can My Dentist Diagnose Sleep Apnea, too?

It is important to get a sleep apnea diagnosis from a primary care provider or sleep physician before seeing a dentist for a sleep orthotic. Your dentist can work in conjunction with your doctor to help customize a treatment plan that will help you get the rest you need. This may include both an oral appliance and CPAP, or one or the other. Your exact prescription will depend on the severity of your symptoms as well as your success with CPAP in the past.

Remember, a dentist may not seem like the obvious choice for treating sleep apnea, but when you really think about their qualifications handling both upper respiratory conditions, the positioning of the jaw, and all other oral health conditions, it makes perfect sense. To learn more about how your sleep dentist can help you get the rest you deserve, schedule an appointment today!

About Dr. Romack

Dr. Deborah Romack earned her dental degree from Baylor College of Dentistry and has dedicated her career to closely following advances in general dentistry, orthodontics, Temporomandibular Joint Disorders (TMD/TMJ) and sleep dentistry. She has taken numerous continuing education courses on airway obstruction, snoring, Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS). She proudly partners with sleep doctors to help patients get the rest they deserve and is an active member of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, American Dental Association, Texas Dental Association, Fort Worth District Dental Society, International Association for Orthodontics, and the American Academy of General Dentistry. To schedule an appointment for sleep apnea therapy at Weatherford Dental Sleep Medicine, please visit our website or call us today at 817-594-3806.