Airway Dentistry
What is Airway Dentistry?
Airway dentistry is an emerging field that focuses on evaluating the structure, function, and behaviors of the oral cavity, particularly the bite and palate. These aspects are closely linked to essential functions such as chewing, swallowing, speaking, and, most importantly, breathing.
This branch of dentistry addresses a wide range of oral issues that can affect breathing, and it has gained attention for its role in managing sleep disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnea. Beyond addressing sleep issues, airway dentistry aims to enhance overall health and well-being.
Why Consult an Airway Dentist?
You may benefit from seeing an airway dentist if you experience any of the following:
– Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) problems
– Sleep apnea
– Habitual chest breathing
– Frequent mouth breathing
– Cracked teeth
– Lack of restful sleep
– Persistent fatigue
– Recurrent tonsil and adenoid removal
– Concerns about your dental and overall health
– Chronic fatigue syndrome
– Difficulty concentrating
– Aiming for peak performance
– Desire to reduce inflammation in your body
If any of these resonate with you, our airway specialist, Dr. Erica Sok, can provide valuable insights and solutions tailored to your needs.
How is Airway Dentistry Performed?
Airway dentistry utilizes a variety of advanced technologies to evaluate your oral health and guide dentists in determining the most appropriate treatment plan based on specific findings.
Technologies Used in Airway Dentistry:
– Cone-Beam CT (CBCT): This imaging technique provides detailed views of the airway, temporomandibular joint (TMJ), and nasal cavity.
– Digital Scanning: This method assesses the size of the dental arches and the extent of any tooth structure loss.
– Digital X-rays: These are used to evaluate the teeth and surrounding structures.
– High-Resolution Pulse Oximetry: This tool measures sleep quality by assessing oxygen levels.
By employing these advanced technologies, airway dentistry aims to deliver comprehensive care unique to each patient’s needs.
Risk Assessment
In airway dentistry, the following areas are thoroughly examined:
– Cavities and Tooth Damage: Signs of wear and erosion can indicate underlying airway issues, which we evaluate to understand the extent of cavities, broken, or fractured teeth.
– Bite and TMJ Evaluation: The function of your temporomandibular joints (TMJ) is crucial for jaw movement. We consider these factors when planning treatment, including how the teeth fit together and the potential impact of orthodontic treatments on your jaw alignment.
– Aesthetics: The size and structure of your teeth influence jaw function. We analyze how your teeth fit within your facial structure and their overall proportions.
– Airway Assessment: We investigate how the anatomy and function of your mouth may affect your breathing and sleeping patterns.
– Dysfunctional Breathing Habits: Abnormal breathing can impact jaw muscle function. We evaluate whether you predominantly breathe through your nose or mouth and the implications for your health.
Note:
In addition to conducting an oral examination, many airway dentists also carry out a thorough physical examination to identify further signs of airway disorders. Your medical history plays a crucial role in the diagnosis, as airway disorders can manifest in various ways. Conditions such as high blood pressure, gastroesophageal reflux disease, headaches, depression, fatigue, and temporomandibular disorders (TMD) may indicate the presence of an airway issue.
Why is Airway Dentistry Important?
Airway dentistry is vital because it directly influences a fundamental human function—breathing.
While breathing is the primary role of the respiratory system, it is also significantly important to dental health. There is a reciprocal relationship between your oral health and your ability to breathe.
Breathing, speaking, chewing, and swallowing involve the same anatomical structures, all of which must work harmoniously together. Any disharmony can lead to dysfunction, which may result in a variety of symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, TMJ disorders, tinnitus, and sleep-related breathing issues.
Furthermore, breathing regulates immediate changes in body chemistry, which in turn affects the jaw muscles and, consequently, the teeth.
Mouth breathing can lead to dry mouth, increasing the risk of enamel erosion and making teeth more susceptible to cavities.
The Science of Breathing and Respiration
Given the close connection between breathing and dentistry, airway dentistry plays a crucial role in addressing breathing disorders to enhance both oral and overall wellness. This raises an important question: What constitutes proper breathing?
It’s important to note that respiration and breathing are not the same. Breathing refers to the physical act of moving air in and out of the lungs, while respiration is the biochemical exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen that occurs within the lungs.
Every breath is significant in the respiration process. It’s possible to take breaths that fail to achieve an adequate exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen, ultimately diminishing the benefits to the body. Proper breathing occurs when breathing and respiration are effectively aligned.
When this alignment is lacking, it can disrupt the body’s pH balance. The body strives to maintain its chemistry within a narrow pH range of 7.35 to 7.45. A pH below 7.35 renders the blood acidic, while a pH above 7.45 results in alkalinity. The brain contains receptor sites for carbon dioxide and pH levels, but not for oxygen, meaning that breathing is primarily regulated by the concentrations of carbon dioxide and pH.
Behaviors can influence this regulated breathing, and alterations in breathing patterns can lead to changes in blood pH, making it either more acidic or more alkaline.
Consequences of Misalignment Between Breathing and Respiration
When breathing and respiration are misaligned, it can lead to significant shifts in body chemistry. This disruption not only adversely affects oral health and sleep quality but can also result in a range of symptoms throughout the body.
Here are some potential symptoms that may occur:
– Nausea, vomiting, cramping, and bloating in the abdominal region
– Acute and chronic fatigue
– Heart-related issues, such as palpitations
– Cognitive challenges, including attention deficits, learning difficulties, poor memory, brain fog, and trouble absorbing new information
– Mental health concerns, manifesting as anxiety, anger, fear, panic, and phobias
– Dizziness, hallucinations, fainting, and reduced coordination and balance
– Muscle pain, including tetany, hyperreflexia, spasms, weakness, or fatigue
– Decreased performance linked to sleep apnea, anxiety, and fatigue
– Noticeable peripheral changes, such as sweating, tingling, numbness, trembling, and shivering
– Respiratory issues, including shortness of breath, airway resistance, and asthma-like symptoms
– Altered sensory responses, such as blurred vision, dry mouth, distant sounds, lowered pain thresholds, and feelings of sensory overload
How Airway Dentistry Addresses Breathing Issues
Breathing problems are closely linked to the structure, function, and behavior of the oral cavity. Airway dentists assess these aspects to determine the most effective treatment for various breathing challenges.
Structure: Nasal breathing is preferred over mouth breathing as it is the optimal method for maintaining a clear airway. When breathing through the nose, the inhaled air is moistened, filtered, and passes through with appropriate resistance. In contrast, mouth breathing allows unfiltered air in, which can lead to inflammation of the adenoid and tonsil tissues, potentially obstructing the airway.
Mouth breathing is often a sign of sleep disorders related to airway blockages, serving as the body’s way of compensating for restricted airflow during sleep.
Function: In a typical chewing and swallowing process, breathing occurs through the nasal passages, with the tongue resting against the upper palate and the lips closed. If nasal breathing is impaired, the body resorts to mouth breathing, making it difficult to chew properly while trying to breathe. Additionally, during speech, the interplay between breathing and tongue position can lead to speech disorders. This may result in the development of dysfunctional habits to manage speaking, chewing, and breathing in a compromise manner.
Behavior: These learned dysfunctional habits perpetuate a pattern of behavior that allows individuals to function, albeit in a less effective way.
What Behaviors Can Affect Breathing?
Certain behaviors can significantly alter breathing patterns, including:
– Heightened feelings of fear and panic
– Physical exercise
– Social interactions
These activities can lead to shifts in how you breathe. For instance, anxiety and exercise often result in shallower breaths due to increased heart rate, whereas deep breathing is more common when you are relaxed. The depth of your breaths can influence whether you primarily breathe through your mouth or nose.
How Airway Dentistry Addresses Sleep Disorders
Airway dentistry enhances overall health by improving sleep quality, which can greatly enhance your quality of life. A good night’s sleep reduces fatigue, optimizes physical performance, and lowers the risk of illness.
Airway dentists often treat sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBDs), which can cause breathing difficulties during sleep and lead to lower blood oxygen levels. This can significantly diminish sleep quality, as patients may frequently awaken during the night.
Common examples of SRBDs include:
– Snoring or loud breathing
– Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), characterized by repeated partial airway obstruction, as indicated by the Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) score
– Upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS), which involves airway obstruction from soft tissue but remains below the AHI threshold
Additionally, patients may be referred by sleep specialists for the treatment of other sleep disorders such as insomnia, restless leg syndrome, and narcolepsy.
Treatment for Sleep-Related Breathing Disorders (SRBD)
In cases of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), adjusting the position of the lower jaw is crucial for keeping the airway open. This adjustment requires activation of the jaw muscles and may affect the position of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), potentially causing muscle pain and clicking sounds in the joint.
The repeated forward and backward movement of the jaw can lead to parafunctional activities, resulting in wear and damage to tooth structure. Additionally, mouth breathing often occurs, which can cause inflammation.
Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT), also known as a sleep appliance, can help manage airway collapse. OAT works by positioning the lower jaw forward, which creates more space for the tongue and helps to open the collapsed airway.
In young children, airway or functional orthodontic treatments can be used to expand the dental arches, creating additional oral volume and providing more room for the tongue.
To schedule your evaluation, contact us at (703)707-8500. Our team of highly trained professionals are able to assess and provide you an individualized treatment plan to improve your quality of life.