As you may know, the structure of your mouth affects your breathing – and can also affect your sleep. Dental care that addresses breathing and sleep issues is called airway dentistry. Airway dentistry can help you breathe and sleep better by addressing issues such as clenching, grinding, snoring and sleep apnea. That is why many dentists, such as My Smile Health Center, are becoming more focused on airway dentistry. We provide patients with the airway, breathing and sleep education and therapies they need to improve their overall health and quality of life.
The team at My Smile Health Center is trained to provide the Vivos Therapeutics System, which is a leading-edge treatment system for sleep apnea. The Vivos System involves conducting a sleep assessment, taking images using a CBCT scanner, and using a treatment algorithm to prescribe you a custom appliance that you wear while you sleep. You will only need to wear the appliance for 1-2 years, with the goal that you won’t require further treatment. With the right therapies for sleep apnea, we can help you find relief from symptoms such as headaches, clenching and grinding, tiredness, and difficulty sleeping.
What is Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy?
An exercise-based therapy that targets and trains proper breathing, speaking, chewing, swallowing and oral rest posture. The therapy consists of 20-60 minutes of daily exercises for a duration of approximately 10 months. With commitment and consistency, orofacial myofunctional therapy can improve habits for people of all ages. Therapy can result in gentle and quiet nasal breathing; proper growth of the face and jaws; elimination of messy eating; reduction of an overactive gag reflex; reduction of snoring and sleep apnea symptoms; elimination of an open bite and relapse after braces; elimination of mouth breathing and bad breath; reduction in the risk for cavities and gum disease; and reduction of jaw pain due to muscle imbalance.
My Smile Health Center offers airway dental services to patients of all ages. Many children experience symptoms of poor airway health, such as sleep apnea and mouth breathing – and early intervention is critical. By correcting problems early, we can improve your child’s airway health and prevent complications from developing later. If your child shows signs of sleep disordered breathing, such as hyperactivity, poor quality of sleep, bedwetting, lip or tongue tie, snoring, mouth breathing, or crowded/crooked teeth, we may be able to help address these problems with airway dentistry.
Your mouth is a gateway to the rest of your body and your oral health influences your overall health. We see you as a unique individual with unique wants and needs. We believe knowledge is power. During your visit with us we will spend time giving you the information and tools you need to help empower you to optimize your dental health and overall wellness.
Understanding the connection between your oral health and other medical conditions will help you to enhance your quality of life.
Our mission is to provide you and your loved ones with overall health, through oral health. Please spread the word about what we are doing here at My Smile Health Centre!
Dr. Ivy Yu
Call: 604 421 1413