Pasadena Oral Surgery

Sleep Apnea and TMJ Disorders Pasadena, Texas 77505

Oral issues can affect more than just the look of your smile. For some patients, oral health issues make it nearly impossible to get high-quality sleep at night. Luckily, your oral surgeon can help. Read on to learn more about our sleep apnea and TMJ disorder treatments.

Sleep apnea is one of the most common sleep disorders in America. If you are tossing and turning at night and aren’t sure why, then you might be suffering from sleep apnea, or SA. SA occurs when a person temporarily stops breathing while they are asleep. This can cause a variety of issues, including chronic fatigue, snoring, and gasping for air in the middle of the night.

There are different causes of sleep apnea. Some patients experience this disorder due to a brain issue or because of weight gain. However, other patients have sleep apnea because of a soft palate abnormality. For these people, oral surgery can make a world of difference. We can remove excess tissue and reshape the tissues in your mouth. This will lead to clear airways and symptom-free nights.

We all have a temporomandibular joint (or TMJ joint for short) that connects our skull and jawbone. This is the joint that moves when we speak, chew, yawn, or just generally open our mouths. People with TMJ disorders have discomfort related to this joint or its surrounding muscles. TMJ disorders can lead to jaw and head pain, as well as a clicking or popping sound while opening and closing your mouth.

It can be difficult to determine the cause of a TMJ disorder. An oral surgeon will evaluate both your mouth and your overall lifestyle to help you get to the root of your problem. Then, your surgeon can treat your disorder using dental appliances like mouth guards or oral surgery. Some patients will need surgery on the joint itself, while others might need injections to dull their pain. Talk to your doctor to determine which treatment is best for you.