Knowledge Is Power
You probably have a list of questions about our treatments, technology, and therapy results. Here, you’ll find answers to some of the most common questions we hear from patients. Click on a topic below to jump to its Q&As. If you have more specific questions, call Napa Family Dental to schedule your personal consultation.
TMJ Therapy Questions
What can untreated TMJ lead to?
Pain is the most common symptom that TMD patients experience, and pain can increase with time if TMD is not properly treated. In addition, you could experience inflammation, bite problems, tooth sensitivity, sleep apnea, insomnia, anxiety, and depression.
What habits should a TMD patient avoid?
TMD patients should break the habits of:
- Clenching or grinding teeth
- Biting nails and other objects
- Chewing ice
- Chewing gum
- Slouching
How does TMD affect daily life?
Many TMD patients wake with a headache or migraine, a dry mouth, and a poor mood. TMD also destroys teeth, which can cause sensitivity and dietary limitations, as well as the need for costly dental restorations. In addition, the chronic pain of TMD can cause irritability and lack of focus. Over time, symptoms of TMD negatively affect overall quality of life.
What makes TMD pain worse?
Repeated motion of the jaw joints, as is necessary when chewing, can aggravate the TMJ. Patients should avoid chewing gum, ice, pen caps, fingernails, chewy meats, crunchy vegetables, and sticky candy.
Additionally, those who clench and grind their teeth–a condition known as bruxism and a symptom of TMD–can experience increasing pain, not only in teeth but also in the jaw joints if proper occlusion is disrupted. Many patients experience greater pain at night because bruxism commonly occurs during sleep.
What causes TMD?
TMJ disorder can stem from many sources, including but not limited to:
- Sleep apnea or sleep disordered breathing
- Stress and anxiety
- Hormone changes
- Genetics
- Low-level infections
- Auto-immune conditions
- Physical accidents
- Bruxism
- Malocclusion
Snoring and Sleep Apnea Questions
How often does snoring accompany sleep apnea?
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), 98% of sleep apnea patients report snoring as a symptom they experience.
What’s the connection between snoring and sleep apnea?
Snoring is caused by the vibration of loose tissues at the back of the throat, and these same tissues can collapse to cause apneic episodes during sleep.
How do I know if I have sleep apnea or I’m just a snorer?
The only way to know for certain that a person has sleep apnea is through the results of a sleep test. There are some take-home tests, and the digital results can be interpreted by a sleep physician for diagnosis. An overnight, onsite session at a sleep lab may be necessary for the acquisition of more detailed data.
Do all sleep apnea patients snore loudly?
Typically, louder snores indicate a higher potential for sleep apnea. Someone who witnesses your sleep may notice pauses in breathing. These are apneic episodes. However, not everyone who snores (even loudly) will receive a sleep apnea diagnosis.
A Consultation: The Best Place to Begin
The importance of patient education cannot be understated. When you understand how to achieve a desired goal and what to expect along the way, you’ll feel more confident making treatment decisions.
Call Napa Family Dental at 505.323.7700 to schedule a personal consultation with Dr. Antani or one of our other experienced doctors. We will sit down and talk with you to learn what you’d like to achieve through treatment, then we can answer all of your questions, as well as the questions you didn’t even know to ask.
