Why Do Orthodontists Offer Sleep Therapy?

Sleep can be a difficult thing for anyone to manage. When to go to bed and for how long is a question that varies from person to person, making traditional advice generic at best. If you’re looking for an expert, though, you might think that you need either a GP or a psychologist. Instead, what you might need is an orthodontist. Here, we’ll look at why orthodontists offer this service and what you can expect from it.

Orthodontics and Airways

Your orthodontist (and dentist, for that matter) can see how air flows through your nose and throat. If you’re snoring or otherwise disrupted during sleep, an oral healthcare provider can spot what’s happening and then recommend ways to stop it.

How Does Sleep Therapy Work?

This question ultimately depends on the type of doctor you see. An orthodontist will typically address the issues by expanding the airways, which may involve using a CPAP machine or clear aligners. If your jaw, teeth, or airways are impacted by anything, whether it’s excess tissue or a misalignment, they can work with you until they fix the issue.

If you’re looking for this type of service, chances are you’ve tried at least several home remedies. You may have tried to institute earlier bedtimes, picked up nasal strips to open your nose passages, or avoid any heavy meals at least a few hours before you lay your head down. If this hasn’t worked (or even somehow made things worse), you may need to think outside the drugstore.

Sleep Therapy in Solon

Sleep therapy in Solon, OH can begin as early as childhood. At DHP Dental, we offer standard sleep therapy to kids as well as specialized sleep therapy services. For example, if your child suffers from ADHD, chances are, they also have disrupted sleep.

Here, you can dive deeper into the standard advice, going beyond a superficial understanding of proven tactics like sleep hygiene and behavioral therapy. Some patients need to work with several specialists, say an orthodontist in Solon and a psychologist, to get better sleep. Others may only need to wear a mouthguard to solve the problem.