sleep apnea & snoring dentist
in Liberty, MO

what is
sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which your breathing stops and starts, over and over. If you’re still tired after a full night’s sleep, or if your roommate or partner tells you you snore loudly, you might be suffering from sleep apnea.

Obstructive sleep apnea:

The most common, this happens when throat muscles relax abnormally

Central sleep apnea:

This type of sleep apnea occurs when your brain doesn’t send proper signals to the breathing muscles

Complex sleep apnea syndrome:

This describes someone who has both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea

factors that could increase
the risk of sleep apnea

Obesity
Family history
Use of alcohol, sedatives, or tranquilizers
Smoking
Nasal congestion
Medical conditions
Heart disorders
Stroke
High blood pressure or heart problems

symptoms of sleep apnea

Signs of obstructive and central sleep apnea overlap. These include:

Loud snoring

Gasping for air during sleep

Awakening with a dry mouth

Morning headache

Difficulty staying asleep (insomnia)

Excessive daytime sleepiness (hypersomnia)

Difficulty paying attention while awake

Irritability

oral health and
sleep apnea

Sleep apnea is characterized by short pauses in breathing during sleep; it might include snoring and choking in your sleep, making it a serious health condition.

Poor oral health could cause sleep apnea, as well as the other way around.

Dental problems such as temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ), bruxism, or dry mouth can be caused by sleep apnea. Habits such as teeth grinding or breathing with your mouth open may lead to sleep apnea, as well as decreased dental health.

Dental symptoms of sleep apnea include:

Clenching/grinding teeth during sleep

Tightness and pain in joints around the month

Sore, raw spots from chewing the inside of your cheeks

Dull headaches at the temples

Not sure if your oral health is affected by sleep apnea, or the other way around? That’s what we’re here for. Give us a call at (816) 429-5799.

what can a dentist do about my sleep apnea?

At Jackson Family Dental, we’ll help you identify dental problems caused by sleep apnea, and recommend ways to alleviate those symptoms.

At our office, we offer Solea Laser Treatment for those struggling with snoring. This treatment uses a laser – a painless and non-invasive technology — to tighten collagen fibers in the soft palate, allowing patients with obstructive sleep apnea to breathe deeper and sleep better.

We will also guide you through behavior modifications that improve your sleep quality and dental health, such as orthodontic treatment to repair teeth misalignment, treatments for dry mouth, and/or a dental mouthpiece to reduce teeth grinding and clenching. Sleep apnea devices, snore guards, and snoring mouthpieces are available at our office, should our dentists decide your situation calls for one.

common questions
about snoring & oral health

How do you know when snoring becomes a problem?

Snoring can be normal. But when it’s loud, obnoxious, and raucous snoring, or it’s interrupted by pauses in breathing, it’s probably a sign of obstructive sleep apnea, which is a serious health concern. Excessive tiredness after a full night’s sleep can also hint at sleep apnea, as can high-blood pressure.

When should I see a dentist about my sleep apnea?

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), or when breathing during sleep pauses for at least 10 seconds before picking up again, may be caused by large tonsils, excess tissue in the upper airway, or abnormal structure of the jaw and airway. Our dental specialists are trained in different sleep apnea treatments, such as special sleep apnea mouthguards that provide a larger airway, alleviating breath problems as you sleep.

What are the benefits of Solea Laser treatment for sleep apnea?

Here are just a few benefits of using our Solea Laser treatment:

It reduces or eliminates snoring
Patients experience better-quality sleep
It reduces sore throats and headaches
Patients enjoy increased daytime energy and better moods
Patients experience improvements in concentration, memory, and learning

I cannot say enough great things about Dr. Jackson and his team. My husband and children have been seeing him for a few years now and I recently switched my care to his team and I am so happy I did. Super sweet, family-oriented, and provide excellent care.

— Elizabeth E.

What a great team they have at Jackson Family Dental. They make the patient experience like no other. 100% class act!

— Drew E.

Best dentist we have ever been to! The entire staff made my daughter’s first visit so easy and safe. Thank you so much!

— Amber S.

They always treat me so well, and pamper me with a warm neck pillow and the massaging chair! It definitely takes the stress away, but the hygienists are so excellent at what they do, and Dr. Jackson is very kind.

— Kathy B.

Everyone here is so very sweet and helpful! they always work with my schedule and help get me an appointment, even if it’s last minute. The office is beautiful and so well run. The best part is they always give you a cookie on the way out.

— Jordan F.