TMJ/Sleep Apnea
People do not immediately consider some conditions to be best treated by their dentist.
Dr. Alkhoury, however, cares for not only the health and beauty of your smile, but can also help you deal with challenging issues such as TMJ disorder or sleep apnea.
In our
Brentwood CA practice, we provide excellent care to those with
TMJ disorder. Here, your
dentist will carefully evaluate the symptoms you are experiencing. Recognizing when the temporomandibular joints, which are located at the back of the jawbone, have become dysfunctional, is the key to getting the care you need. Some of the common signs include:
- Clicking, popping sounds in the jaw
- Jaw pain
- Discomfort when chewing
- Neck pain
- Headaches
When treating
TMJ disorder, your
dentist will look for possible causes of the condition, such as misalignment of bite. To aid in the diagnosis of TMJ disorder, we use JVA (jaw vibration analysis), as well as CBCT cat-scan. A custom-made oral appliance, created in our
Brentwood CA practice, is often the exact approach that gets the results you need. Other modalities available include cold laser therapy for joint, neck, shoulder, and lower back pain, prolo therapy, and a compound therapeutic ointment designed by Dr. Alkhoury. If you suspect that you may have TMJ disorder, contact our office to schedule your one-on-one consultation with Dr. Alkhoury.
![TMJ and Sleep Apnea Brentwood, CA - TMJ/Sleep Apnea Patient testimonials video 35]()
Obstructive sleep apnea is another common condition from which patients find relief from their dentist. This sleep disorder is associated with loud, chronic snoring - the kind that might keep housemates awake. The challenge is not in treating sleep apnea in our Brentwood CA practice, it is in getting that first diagnosis. Many people who suffer from this condition are unaware of what is occurring while they sleep. Not only do we conduct our own sleep studies for obstructive sleep apnea, certified by Board Certified sleep physician for OSA scoring and diagnosis, we provide an alternative treatment that is effective and comfortable.
![TMJ and Sleep Apnea Brentwood, CA - TMJ/Sleep Apnea Patient testimonials video 7]()
The obstructive form of sleep apnea is a condition in which the airway becomes blocked as the surrounding muscles fully relax in sleep. Due to the lack of oxygen, the brain responds by rousing sleep, but only enough to prompt breathing to resume. Although these episodes may occur hundreds of times in a night, it is quite possible that the person affected by sleep apnea will not become aware of the severity of his or her condition on their own. In our
Brentwood CA practice, we take an approach to
sleep apnea that is different from the standard medical approach, the CPAP machine. Where a CPAP machine keeps the airway open by constantly delivering air via nasal prongs or a device that covers the nose, our Medibyte oral airway appliance places the jaw in the proper position to maintain optimal airflow comfortably and without complication. This device is easy to use, and can be taken home immediately after we demonstrate how to use it.
Both TMJ disorder and sleep apnea are conditions that could worsen if not treated properly. Dr. Alkhoury has received the advanced training necessary to diagnose and treat TMJ and obstructive sleep apnea using therapeutic approaches that produce results. Return to your best state of health working with Dr. Alkhoury in the treatment of your condition.
These video testimonials are from actual patients treated by Dr. Alkhoury after their consent to display their testimonials , results are not the same and may vary.
Your TMJ – functions, distinctions and much more!
The distinction of the TMJ for other joints in the body must be notes. It’s function and strategic positioning in the facial structure is with absolutely precision and reason. Anatomically it is key to understand such details to comprehend possible symptoms and effective remedies for TMJ patients and case studies.
Transcript
What is TMJ & TMD?
TMJ is Temporomandibular joint and TMD is Temporomandibular joint disorder, therefore everybody has TMJ – that is how we open and close our mouth. TMD is the disorder with TMJ.
How is the jaw joint different to other joints?
The jaw joint is the most forgotten joint in the body – everybody care for their knees, elbows and neck but when it comes to jaw joints, they only seek treatment when they cannot open their mouth or when they really have severe jaw pain.
It is a very tricky joint as it is the only joint that does two different movements – rotation and translation, no other joint in the body has that capability.
What causes TMD?
Well it depends – you have to discern what the cause it, what is going on with the joints, and why the joints are not aligned. Most of the facts and causes we see are due to disc displacement.
This could be due to laceration or laxity of the ligaments the discs start beginning to get unstable and start moving out of place.
You start hearing the clicking popping sounds that may be accompanied by pain or maybe not. Jaw joint disorder is a very tricky one, as it goes through a lot of stages and it changes its symptoms and manifestations all throughout.
Does it go undetected?
You can have a jaw issue and live with it for years and it goes undiscovered and you only seek treatment because either you cannot chew anymore or you are having ear pain.
What is TMJ pain?
Everyone has two jaw joints (temporomandibular joints) on either side of the face that help with talking, eating, yawning, etc. When these hinge-like jaw joints are injured or incorrectly positioned, the joints and related structures may suffer unnecessary stress, resulting in the below symptoms.
- Constant headaches
- Jaw pain or soreness
- Locked jaws
- Painful chewing
- Earaches
- Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
- Clicking or popping sounds when opening and closing your mouth
TMJ pain can range from mild to severe pain. Mild pain rarely needs treatment, but if your pain affects your everyday activities, you should seek treatment soon.
What is sleep apnea?
This sleep disorder occurs when breathing stops and starts when sleeping. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common, which happens when the throat muscles relax, obstructing the upper airway. The stoppage in breathing happens for a scary 10 seconds and can recur up to a hundred times a night!
Continuous oxygen and sleep deprivation stress the body and cause the following symptoms.
- Morning headaches
- Waking up with a sore throat
- Daytime sleepiness and fatigue
- Mood changes and irritability
- Choking or gasping for air at night
- Stress and anxiety
How dangerous is sleep apnea?
Sufferers may not realize they're experiencing interrupted breathing, as it typically happens while asleep. This lack of awareness can delay diagnosis, allowing the condition to persist and potentially lead to more serious health complications over time.
Due to the stress it places on the cardiovascular system, untreated sleep apnea increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and excessive blood pressure, among other serious health problems. It can also lead to depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders, as poor sleep quality affects mental health. Serious stuff, uh!
How is TMJ pain and sleep apnea diagnosed?
We diagnose TMJ pain by combining symptom evaluation, physical exams, CBCT scans, and jaw vibration analysis (JBA). The diagnosis of OSA involves a sleep study done at home or a sleep center.
How is sleep apnea treated?
A continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine is the standard mild to moderate OSA treatment. The machine forces a constant airstream past the airway to keep it open when sleeping. CPAPs work, but many patients find them uncomfortable, bulky, and noisy.
Our dentist treats OSA with a custom-fitted oral device. Our Medibyte oral airway appliance repositions the jaws to create space in the airway to maintain optimal breathing when sleeping.
How does a dentist treat TMJ pain?
Like sleep apnea, our doctor treats TMJ pain with a customized oral splint. This oral device sits snugly over the teeth to protect the jaw joints from undue stress. The TMJ device allows the joints to relax and heal over time.
Does a dentist near me treat TMJ pain and sleep apnea?
Don't let TMJ pain or sleep apnea ruin your life in Brentwood, California. Call 925-344-5296 to seek treatment from Brentwood Family Dental. Left untreated, OSA and TMJ pain worsens, compromising your oral and overall health. Don't take chances!
Dr. Jamil Alkhoury
Connect Dr. Jamil Alkhoury on LinkedIn
Dr Jamil Alkhoury believes dentists to be artists. Taking care of another person’s teeth is definitely an art in which Dr Jamil Alkhoury is an expert. Having graduated from
University of California,
San Francisco (UCSF) with a degree in Advanced Education in General Dentistry, he has always focused on the well-being of his patients. Brentwood family dental headed by Dr Jamil Alkhoury offers a wide range of services. He always keeps in touch with the developments in the field, to serve his purpose to the best of his abilities.
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