Breathing during sleep
Breathing:
Restful sleep is the foundation on which our health is built. Breathing during sleep should be silent and effortless through the nose. The mouth, nose and jaw are part of the upper respiratory tract and can be positively influenced by orthodontic treatment. Such treatments can help to widen constrictions, improve nasal breathing and optimize the function of the airways.
Mechanism:
In underdeveloped jaws, the airways are often narrowed, which makes breathing through the nose more difficult. The body then switches to mouth breathing, which requires more energy and eliminates the natural filtering function of the nose. This can affect the quality of sleep and have a negative impact on general health.
Consequences:
Non-restorative sleep due to increased breathing effort can have a significant impact on health. The body remains in a state of increased exertion, which can lead to chronic fatigue, concentration problems and a weakened immune system. In the long term, the risk of cardiovascular diseases, metabolic disorders and psychological stress and depression increases.
Treatment:
In order to find the right treatment, the cause of the breathing problems must first be accurately diagnosed. An interdisciplinary approach in which ENT specialists, sleep physicians and myofunctional therapists work together is crucial. Depending on the findings, symptom-relieving measures such as snoring splints or cause-oriented therapies such as DOME, orthognathic surgery or tongue tie release can be used.
DOME (maxillary expansion)
DOME (Distraction Osteogenesis Maxillary Expansion) is a modern method for expanding the upper jaw, which is used particularly in adults with a narrow, high-arched palate. By expanding the palate, breathing is improved as more space is created in the nasal passages and airflow is optimized. This can alleviate sleep problems such as obstructive sleep apnoea and improve the quality of sleep in the long term. DOME is particularly suitable for patients who do not respond well to conventional therapies such as CPAP.
Snoring splint
With a snoring splint, the lower jaw is moved forward, which opens the airways and improves the air supply. During sleep, the muscles in the throat relax, which can lead to a narrowing of the airways. The air then has to flow through this narrower passage, which creates vibrations in the soft tissues such as the palate and uvula - and these vibrations are responsible for the characteristic snoring sound.
Crunch splint
A grinding splint is used for bruxism (teeth grinding) to protect the teeth and jaw joints. Possible causes of bruxism can be occlusal interference (incorrect contact between the teeth), psychological factors such as stress or anxiety and breathing problems during sleep. The custom-made splint helps to reduce pressure on the temporomandibular joint and alleviate discomfort.
To the appointment
Vienna
Schottengasse 4/34, 1010 Vienna
Phone: +43 1 5353111
Office hours:
Tue: 9:00-16:00
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Fri 8:30 - 13:30