How Dental Evaluation Helps Identify the Cause of Snoring
Snoring is often overlooked and treated as a harmless problem or even something somewhat charming. However, snoring often indicates a person has a greater underlying health issue. At the practice of Dr Katie Garvin, we can help you look at the problem and possible solutions from a dental perspective. Contact us today and schedule an appointment discover why so many residents love talking with Dr Garvin about their concerns.
Should You Be Concerned About Snoring?
Snoring is often a sign of another medical condition, with sleep apnea being one of the most common. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is especially concerning because it can encourage conditions like high blood pressure, memory loss, cardiovascular disease, and even stroke. Many patients also develop daytime fatigue.
Dr Katie M Garvin works with patients to assess what's going on. Many of the potential issues arise from the body, such as airway size and oral anatomy. Others are driven by habits, such as tongue posture and jaw position.
The signs are often also evident through a dental evaluation.
- Damaged tongue edges
- Jaw size and alignment
- Palate shape and width
- Tonsil and soft tissue thickness
- Worn or fractured teeth
- Teeth grinding
- Morning jaw pain or headaches
- Dry mouth or gum recession
How a Dental Evaluation Identifies Snoring's Causes
Knowing what's driving snoring is critical before setting up a treatment plan. Dr Garvin directly observes patients' oral issues to get a sense of what's happening. For example, a large or rear-positioned tongue can block the airway during sleep, limiting airflow. The answer may be oral appliance therapy to encourage a better tongue posture while you sleep. Getting more air can improve sleep quality significantly.
You can expect the following during your consultation with Dr Katie Garvin:
- Visual airway and jaw exam
- Sleep habit discussion
- Teeth molds and imaging
- Oral appliance fitting
- Sleep specialist referral, if needed
What Are the Treatment Options for Snoring?
The range of potential treatment options is significant. We often prescribe custom oral appliances to promote better oral posture. If necessary, an oral appliance can be custom fitted. Especially if you're not a fan of CPAP devices or surgery, this may be a good alternative.
Additional interventions often include weight loss, reduction of alcohol consumption before bed time, and the adoption of a side sleeping positions. Snoring therapy is often useful in developing better habits.
Why Choose Macon Smiles?
Our guidance builds on more than 20 years of work for the residents of North Macon, Forsyth, and the surrounding areas. We bring a complete and caring approach to ever situation we address. You will find our location at 4929 Forsyth Road in Macon, GA, to be highly convenient. Check out our blog to learn our advice about a wide range of other conditions, too. If you're worried that you might need to talk with a dentist to discover the root causes of snoring, contact the office of Dr Katie M Garvin right away.
