TMD / Bruxism / Sleep Apnoea in Mount Waverley, VIC
At Mount Waverley Smiles, our dentists offer specialty services and treatments for TMD (temporomandibular joint dysfunction), sleep apnoea and bruxism. Studies have shown that there may be a link between these conditions that may negatively impact your oral health in Mount Waverley, VIC.
What Is TMD?
TMD implies a disorder of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), a hinge-like bone that connects your jaw to your lower skull.
When this joint is inflamed or not functioning properly, you may notice chronic or recurring headaches, a clicking sound in the joint, locking jaw, jaw pain and neck pain.
TMD may link to bruxism (grinding and clenching your teeth) or sleep apnoea (a serious sleep disorder).
Untreated TMD may lead to severe pain and severely inhibit your ability to chew. Our dentists will work with you to come up with a solution.
What Is Sleep Apnoea
Sleep apnoea is a severe sleep disorder that means you stop breathing several times during the night. The symptoms of sleep apnoea include:
- Feeling tired during the day
- Feeling irritable
- Waking up during the night
- Snoring
Untreated sleep apnoea in Mount Waverley, VIC can lead to serious health complications, including sudden heart attack and stroke.
Your Mount Waverley, VIC dentist can spot the signs of sleep apnoea upon exam and point you to a specialist for diagnosis. Your dentist may also provide treatment for your sleep apnoea.
What Is Bruxism?
Bruxism means you grind and clench your teeth. Many patients do this while sleeping and don’t recall doing it. They simply wake up with sore jaws or have intermittent tooth pain.
Without treatment, bruxism may lead to enamel attrition, cavities and even tooth loss through breakage. Bruxism in Mount Waverley, VIC may also contribute to TMD.
Treatments for TMD, Sleep Apnoea and Bruxism in Mount Waverley
TMD services in Mount Waverley, VIC may call for special exercises or even a custom mouthguard to relieve grinding and clenching. Your Mount Waverley, VIC dentist can create a custom mouthguard that works for your unique situation, a mouthguard that fits your smile and helps to relieve your discomfort.
Sleep apnoea treatments in Mount Waverley, VIC rely on a similar mouthguard, but in this case, the guard is designed to keep your airway open while you sleep. These mouthguards are designed with your comfort in mind. Often people who cannot sleep well with the CPAP machine—a standard sleep apnoea therapy—move toward mouthguards.
Bruxism treatments in Mount Waverley, VIC may rely on custom nightguards. These nightguards gently separate your teeth as you sleep, which prevents grinding and clenching.
Treatments for these conditions are at the discretion of your dentist, but if you’ve been diagnosed or suspect you have TMD, sleep apnoea or bruxism, we invite you to contact Mount Waverley Smiles. Dr Austin Rhee or Dr William Huynh will assess your situation and work to help you feel better and sleep better.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sleep apnoea is a condition that means you cease breathing at intervals during the night. This sleep disorder has been linked to serious health conditions, including resistant high blood pressure. For this reason, we recommend getting treatment if you’ve been diagnosed with the condition or suspect you might have it.
Symptoms of sleep apnoea may include:
- Snoring
- Daytime sleepiness
- Mood changes
- Dry throat
- Waking up often
A sleep specialist can diagnose the condition, and treatments include the CPAP machine or an oral appliance. The CPAP machine includes a mask that you wear during sleep. It delivers continuous air to help prevent breathing cessation. Your Glen Waverley dentist can also create a custom appliance that gently separates your jaws during sleep. This device also helps keep the airway open.
Depending on your level of sleep apnoea, your dentist will talk to you about the treatment that may work best for you. In some cases, you can opt for CPAP and our sleep appliance together. The latter is easier to pack up when travelling.
As far as curing sleep apnoea, surgery may provide a cure—depending on the cause of your sleep apnoea—but it is typically a last resort.
We Invite You to Contact Your Dentist Near Me
If you would like to learn more about the treatment for sleep apnoea in Glen Waverley, we welcome your call.
Meet Our Dentists:
Dr Austin Rhee BDSc (Melbourne)
Dentist
Austin graduated from The University of Melbourne in 2004 and has since worked in private practice on the Mornington Peninsula.
Having lived in the Waverley area his entire life, he began Mount Waverley Smiles with his ...
Dr William Huynh BDSc (Melbourne)
Dentist
William graduated from The University of Melbourne in 2004 and is a member of the Australian Dental Association. With over 14 years of experience working in private practice in Hoppers Crossing, William moved to the ...
Featured Blog Posts - TMD / Bruxism / Sleep Apnoea
Unlocking the Night: Understanding TMD, Bruxism and Sleep Apnoea
In the heart of Mount Waverley, VIC, many individuals grapple with conditions that silently disrupt their sleep and, by extension, their quality of life. Among these are temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD), bruxism and sleep apnoea, each contributing to discomfort and health issues that go beyond mere sleep disturbances. Understanding these ...
How You Can Recognize TMD Symptoms and Causes
Most people go their entire lives without appreciating their jaw joint or TMJ. This acronym stands for temporomandibular joint, and doctors have labelled it one of your most complex joints. The first interesting fact is that your TMJ is your only joint that is actually two joints, one on ...
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Realising that you are affected by bruxism can come off as a tricky diagnosis regarding treatment options, but rest assured, there are several strategies to manage and treat this common condition.
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