Any of your partner or family members snore so loudly that it affected you? Or are you the one that snores or fear you suffer from sleep apnea, your dentist may have a solution for you.
Can a dentist diagnose if I have a snoring problem or sleep apnea?
Yes, a trained dentist or dental medicine practitioner can diagnose if you have a snoring problem. If you suspect that you have a snoring problem, severe teeth grinding or sleep apnea, you can visit a trained dentist or dental medicine practitioner for advice.
Trained dentist are able to examine the conditions of your mouth, throat and teeth, together with detailed discussions with you and your spouse or family members. Along with that, questionnaires and sleep test may be needed for the dentist can gather more information on your risks of snoring or sleep apnea.
One of the physical condition that your dentist will be able to tell are is grinding of your teeth, which is one of the symptoms of sleep apnea.
How can the dentist help me deal with my snoring or sleep apnea problem?
The ‘gold standard’ treatment for sleep apnea is to use the Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine. However, for individuals who cannot tolerate continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). Your dentist may provide another alternative for you – oral appliance therapy.
A custom-fitted oral appliance fits over your teeth like an mouthguard/retainer while you sleep and supports your jaw in a forward position to keep your airway open.
The best way to find out what type of treatment you need is to schedule for an appointment with a trained dentist, who may send you for a sleep test if he/she suspects that you suffer from sleep apnea. In Asia Pacific Dental Centre, we provide Dental Sleep medicine services for our patients.
