Posted on 6/7/2021 by Oral Surgery Specialists of Austin
Sleep apnea affects most people around the globe, but only a few individuals are aware of their condition. Although there is no clear cause of this disease, certain individuals are at a higher risk than others. This includes those with large tonsils, obese, women on menopause, and people with an overbite. If you suffer from sleep apnea, your breathing passageway will relax during sleep, closing your airways. This causes sleep interruptions as you try to gasp for air. Individuals with obstructive sleep apnea can have up to thirty interruptions, which is a concern that requires medical attention.
How Overbite Causes Sleep Apnea
One of the causes of sleep apnea is an overbite. If your upper jaw extends far over the lower jaw, you will have an overbite and a risk for sleep apnea. You will also snore during sleep if you have an overbite. In severe cases, your upper jaw will overlap the lower jaw by up to 2.5 millimeters. Since your lower jaw sits far back from the upper jaw, it will cause your upper airways to narrow during sleep, affecting airflow; hence, the sleep disruptions. However, an overbite surgery can correct this problem to ensure a normal life and quality sleep.
Treatment of Sleep Apnea
If your sleep apnea is due to an overbite, we will recommend treatment options, including braces, aligners, teeth removal, or surgery. Braces and aligners are effective in shifting teeth to the correct position. If a crooked tooth is the result of your overbite and makes it difficult for you to wear either braces or aligners, we will extract it. Finally, in severe cases, we will do an orthognathic surgery that involves shifting your upper or lower or both jaws to the correct position and securing them using screws and titanium plates. After these treatments, you should have a correct bite and normal breathing during sleep. For more details on sleep apnea and overbite, contact our office today.
Dental Implants Austin • Dental Blog • Oral Surgery Specialists We perform a variety of procedures in order to correct injuries, defects, and diseases to the head, face, neck, jaws, and tissues of the oral region. Read our Blog! Oral Surgery Specialists of Austin, 5301 Davis Ln, Suite 102, Austin, Texas 78749 • (512) 547-6852 • ossaustin.com • 3/19/2025 • Tags: Dental Implants Austin TX •
Sleep apnea affects most people around the globe, but only a few individuals are aware of their condition. Although there is no clear cause of this disease, certain individuals are at a higher risk than others. This includes those with large tonsils, obese, women on menopause, and people with an overbite. If you suffer from