Airway Orthodontics and MARPE (MSE)

One of the most common sleep apnea causes is anatomical issues such as a naturally narrow airway or a small mouth. Luckily, these issues can be corrected by a dentist or orthodontist who practices sleep dentistry. Sleep apnea, a medical condition that causes you to stop breathing repeatedly during the night, is a serious issue. Symptoms include:

• Gasping or choking at night. 
• Difficulty breathing at night. 
• Loud snoring. 
• Daytime fatigue. 
• Chest pain. 

If you recognize the signs of sleep apnea in yourself, visit Clocktower Family Dental today to get started on your path to treatment. Untreated sleep apnea can be dangerous. The side effects of sleep apnea include increased risk of stroke, heart failure, heart disease, diabetes, and depression. It’s also just unpleasant to consistently be sleep-deprived!

Treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Snoring

You don’t have to suffer from sleep apnea side effects—our experienced team can give you the treatment you need to get a good night’s sleep. We have many treatment options for sleep apnea, including orthodontics. How can orthodontic treatment help with sleep apnea and snoring? In some patients, sleep apnea occurs because their jaw isn’t positioned to support the tongue and throat muscles correctly. This allows for the tongue and other tissues at the back of the mouth to fall back and block the airway during sleep. Orthodontics can reposition the jaw so that the teeth meet up correctly and those loose tissues at the back of your mouth are held away from the throat, even while you’re sleeping. Find out if airway orthodontics can help you sleep better by scheduling a FREE sleep apnea consultation today.

Orthodontic Treatment Isn’t Just for Looks

If you’re unsure how an orthodontist could help with sleep apnea and snoring, you’ve come to the right place. Orthodontics offers many sleep apnea solutions. Orthodontic treatment is a proven and effective way to get relief because sleep apnea can be caused by these orthodontic problems:

• Crowded teeth.
• Misaligned jaw.
• Narrow palate. 

While some obstructive sleep apnea treatment options, like a CPAP machine, only treat the symptoms of sleep apnea, our team at Clocktower Family Dental can offer you solutions that get at the root cause of your sleep apnea. By permanently adjusting the problems that cause your sleep apnea, you can get sleep apnea help that lasts without wearing a mask or mouth guard every night.  If you’re looking for sleep apnea treatment without CPAP therapy, airway orthodontics and MARPE might be for you.

What Is MARPE? 

MARPE stands for mini-implant-assisted rapid palatal expansion. It’s one treatment device used in airway orthodontics and sleep apnea airway management. It’s a non-surgical treatment for people with narrow upper jaws.  A narrow upper jaw can cause crowded teeth and a narrow airway since there’s less room for everything in a smaller mouth. It can also create nasal obstruction. All of this can create a blocked airway that makes breathing difficult while sleeping. MARPE can be used after your maxillary bone (the bone that forms the roof of your mouth) fuses, which happens around 12–15 years of age. The device directly connects to the maxillary bone, so it must be mature and sturdy.

How Does MARPE Work? 

MARPE increases the space in your mouth by expanding your maxillary bone. That increased space has many positive effects, including more room for your tongue (keeping it from falling backward and restricting your air) and a larger airway.  Your MARPE treatment will include a custom-made expander placed on the root of your mouth. The procedure to place the expander is around 20-30 minutes and is done under local anesthesia.

Other Benefits of Orthodontic Treatment:

• Breathe easier through your nose
• More tongue space
• Treat your sleep apnea
• Help you chew better
• Protect your overall tooth and gum health
• Fix crooked teeth or a misaligned jaw
• Make your smile look amazing
• Improve your overall health

Call Today To Find Out More About MARPE (MSE)

Schedule a FREE sleep apnea consultation with Clocktower Family Dental, the dental clinic that cares about your sleep as well as your teeth.