Airway Focused Dentistry: What Is It And What Are The Benefits?

Healthy and proper functions of your airway system significantly contribute to improve quality of life and overall well being. Reports suggest that nearly 67% of patients with sleep disorders were diagnosed with airway issues. While breathing is the single most significant action we do every day, millions of people of all ages around the world are struggling with breathing difficulties due to airway insufficiencies. It causes breathing disorder which interrupts oxygen supply to nearly every cell of your body.
Breathing disorder is pretty common and often pronounced during sleep. Nearly 42 million adults in the United States of America experience sleep-disordered-breathing (SDB) while a huge nearly 75% of serious SBD cases go overlooked.
Airway insufficiencies during sleep can lead to SBD, Sleep apnea, and plenty of other problems that may vary from kids to adults. This is more likely to occur due to a structural abnormality in the airways, jaw joints, or the bite.
Airway Focused Dentistry addresses critical conditions of the airway that may affect multiple aspects of your health, especially the quality of sleep. There are many other benefits of airway-centered dentistry, but let’s check the common symptoms and health issues of SBD first.

Common Symptoms of SBD

• Mouth breathing.
• Snoring.
• Teeth grinding and clenching (bruxism).
• Unexplained broken crowns or fractured teeth/tooth pain.
• Brain fog and daytime drowsiness/chronic fatigue.
• Forward head posture.
• Headaches.
• Face, neck, shoulder, and joint pain.
• Stress.
• Weight gain.

Some Common Health Issues Led by SBD

• Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).
• Memory problems.
• Anxiety.
• Depression.
• ADD and ADHD.
• Periodontal (gum) disease.
• Upper respiratory infections and chronic sinus infections.
• Hypertension.
• Hypothyroidism.
• Cardiovascular disease.
• Diabetes.
• Obesity.
• Chronic pain.

Sleeping breathing disorder can be worse if overlooked or not treated timely. But, fortunately, airway insufficiencies can be easily treated. There are professional dentists in San Jose offering airway focused dentistry services.

The procedure of Airway-focused Dentistry

To render a life-changing patient experience, every treatment has to meet certain standards. And, professionals understand it very well. They start from the beginning to reach the root cause of airway insufficiencies. Here is the process.

• Evaluation
  It includes a detailed dental inspection, posture analysis, symptom review, and evolution of your overall health (Also previous health records).
• Sleep Study
  If an airway insufficiency is detected, a convenient sleep-study will be prescribed.
• Mapping
  After going through your sleep data, experts will capture high-resolution pictures of your mouth and face using advanced 3D scanning and imaging technology for mapping and measuring your craniofacial structure. It will be used to detect the root cause of breathing disorder.
• Personalization
  Your diagnosis and treatment will be shared and customized with an expert lab based on your previous health record.
• Treatment
  Right after your approval of the personalized treatment plan, it will be performed to meet your personal needs and required clinical outcomes. The duration of the airway focused dentistry treatment may vary from 12 months to 18 months depending on the condition and health history.

Advantages of Airway-focused Dentistry

Well-functional breathing allows your body to get what it needs for a vibrant and healthy life. The benefits associated with airway-focused dentistry treatment can thoroughly improve your overall health and daily quality of living.

• Helps Breathing Functions
  A clean and properly aligned airway makes it easy to breathe and also minimizes the chances of sleep apnea.
• Preventive Solutions
  Early airway focused dentistry can help patients prevent some serious conditions mentioned below.
• Nasal Breathing
  This treatment focuses on nasal breathing and promotes jaw structure improvement and dental development naturally. Getting orthodontic treatment can help you cure long-term breathing difficulties and sleep problems.
• Comprehensive
  Airway focused dentistry offers comprehensive dental treatments that allow you to breathe normally during sleeping and enjoy and better site along with stabilized dental health.
  If you experience either of the aforementioned symptoms or health issues, you just need to schedule a visit with a professional dentist who has expertise in Airway-focused dentistry.