Cosmetic Dentistry Directory Blog

While sleep apnea is a potentially serious condition that afflicts millions of Americans, a study published earlier this year in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine reports that people who suffer from sleep apnea have fewer nightmares.

Not only did people with sleep apnea have fewer nightmares, according to the study, but the subjects with more severe sleep apnea had even fewer nightmares than the subjects with mild sleep apnea. Around two-thirds of the participants who do not have sleep apnea reported having nightmares more than once a week. Only 43% of participants with mild sleep apnea, 30% with moderate sleep apnea, and 20% with severe sleep apnea reported having nightmares.

The authors of the study believe that the REM sleep, when nightmares are most likely, of the participants with sleep apnea was interrupted more frequently. However, they admit that it is possible that nightmares occurred but were not remembered due to the disruption of REM sleep.

Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition where breathing is interrupted during sleep because of an obstructed or narrow airway. Sleep apnea can cause loud snoring, poor quality or frequently interrupted sleep, and is linked to chronic disease. The same problems with craniofacial anatomy that lead to sleep apnea are also linked to temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD). Therefore, while they do not diagnose sleep apnea, neuromuscular dentists can also help mitigate some of the symptoms of sleep apnea, including nighttime bruxism (grinding/clenching of teeth).

Neuromuscular dentists treat TMD by attempting to address the anatomical issues at the heart of the problem. A misaligned bite, also called malocclusion, can cause misalignment and strain of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), where the jaw meets the cranium. This strain can lead to TMJ migraine headaches as well as neck and back pain and other symptoms. Neuromuscular dentists often prescribe specially designed orthotics or a cosmetic dental procedure to bring the bite back into alignment.

To find a neuromuscular dentist in your area, please contact us or click on the map at the bottom of this page.