What Information Can a Sleep Study Provide?

A sleep dentist can help treat a range of sleep-related disorders, and they typically start with a sleep study, which reveals the underlying cause of the sleep-related symptoms. In this review, we dive deep into what information a sleep study provides and how a sleep dentist can use that information to help patients enjoy a better night of sleep.

Sleep study from a dentist: Here is what you should know

Here is everything to know about sleep studies from a sleep dentist, including what they are, what they reveal, and how the dentist can use the information to help the patient treat sleep-related conditions.

What is a sleep study?

A sleep study from a sleep dentist is an examination to help diagnose sleep-related issues, especially sleep-related disorders that are linked with dental and oral health.

What can a sleep study reveal?

A dentist may look for specific conditions during a sleep study, or they may perform the study to look for general ailments, such as TMJ disorder, sleep apnea, or bruxism. Here are five common conditions that a sleep study from a sleep dentist can reveal:

• TMJ disorder: TMJ disorder involves pain and dysfunction in the jaw joint and muscles that control jaw movement. It can lead to jaw pain, clicking or popping sounds, and difficulty opening or closing the mouth.
• Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA): This is the most common type of sleep apnea. Individuals with OSA have difficulty staying asleep throughout the night and wake often due to the collapse of the airways, leading to a persistent need to gasp for air.
• Teeth grinding (bruxism): Bruxism occurs when the patient involuntarily clenches their jaw and grinds their teeth while asleep. This may lead to worn-down teeth, TMJ disorder, morning headaches, and other distressing symptoms and conditions.
• Sleep-related breathing disorders: A sleep dentist may also detect signs of upper airway resistance syndrome, irregular breathing, and other breathing-related sleep disorders.
• Effectiveness of oral appliances (e.g., nightguards): In certain cases, sleep dentists may recommend a sleep study to determine if a custom nightguard is working the way that it should, particularly if the appliance is not having the desired effect.

How can a sleep dentist treat sleep-related conditions?

Based on the findings from the sleep study, a sleep dentist may recommend one of several possible treatment options. For minor cases, an oral appliance may be best, whereas surgery may be more suitable for severe cases. The most commonly recommended treatments include:

• Mandibular advancement device, tongue-retaining device, and other oral appliances used for sleep apnea treatment
• Corrective jaw surgery
• Orthodontic treatment
• Lifestyle modifications

Contact our sleep dentist to schedule a visit

Our sleep dentist can help you determine the underlying cause of sleep-related symptoms. If you are not entirely satisfied with the quality of your sleep, wake up with symptoms like headaches or a sore jaw, or experience daytime fatigue, we strongly encourage you to contact our dentistry and schedule a time for a visit with our team.

Request an appointment here: https://www.dentalsleepsolutionsgroup.com or call Dental Sleep Solutions Group at (530) 727-6080 for an appointment in our Red Bluff office.

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