Orthodontic Treatment
When sleep shortages are preventing you from a restful night's sleep, orthodontic measures may be considered.
Because your jaw growth is a gradual process, your upper and lower jaws may develop at different rates. This may directly affect your breathing and in turn, contribute to your sleep deficiency. Aside from a mis-matched jaw due to conflicting growth rates, the positioning may have also been affected by an injury or it could have been a birth defect – gone undetected. Additionally, a deep overbite or buck teeth can be an indicator of a sleep apnea problem.
You can potentially benefit from orthodontic treatment through the re-positioning and re-alignment of your jaw.
This is usually achieved by expanding the upper and lower jaw and ultimately widening your breathing airway.
Orthodontics can help change the pattern of your teeth and bite. If you've had orthodontic work over the past 30 years or so, chances are you've had the exact opposite done, in relation to your jaw position. Traditional orthodontics moved the jaw backwards, creating generations of people who are now experiencing sleep problems, however a newer, progressive approach moves the lower jaw forward, therefore helping the situation.
The objective of an orthodontic treatment is to correct of a variety of facial and jaw irregularities, resulting in an improved ability to breathe and consequently, sleep. This can be achieved both with and without surgery - depending on the severity of the jaw placement.
