Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea affects millions of people across the world. People who have trouble sleeping should not ignore the issue since it could lead to other serious problems. What many people don’t know is when to address their sleep apnea and whom they should talk to. Some of the main signs of sleep apnea include:

Excessive snoring
Shortness of breath while sleeping
Waking abruptly throughout the night
Trouble staying in a restful sleep
Sleepiness during the daytime
Irritability or other mood swings

Every person who has sleep apnea can be affected differently. Many times they may not even be aware they have a problem until their partner or someone else points it out to them. And what catches people by surprise, even more, is when their dentist asks if they are getting restful sleep at night. The link between sleep apnea and dentistry generally isn’t acknowledged by the average person, but there is definitely a connection, and our doctors are here to help.

How Sleep Apnea Relates to Dentistry

Our doctors will notice signs of worn down teeth, tooth breakage, and receding gums. While it may not be a sure sign of sleep apnea, it’s a definite possibility. Worn down teeth shows that the patient grinds their teeth often, and grinding is typically done at night. In the event of excessively worn teeth, our doctors may present the question of how well a patient sleeps at night.

Not only can grinding teeth potentially wake up a patient throughout the night, but it can also cause damage to the teeth and gums. It’s important to note that dentists cannot diagnose sleep apnea on their own, but they can identify potential signs and suggest the patient visits their primary doctor for a recommendation.

Causes of Sleep Apnea

There are many different reasons why people may have sleep apnea. Some of the causes can be controlled by changing lifestyle habits, while others may require other treatments. The main causes include:

Having a smaller-than-normal upper airway
Having a small jaw
Having a significant overbite
Having a large neck
Being overweight or obese
Grinding teeth

These causes of sleep apnea can vary among patients. The common theme with each of these causes is the patient’s inability to get restful sleep on a nightly basis. Identifying these causes is the first step in addressing the problem.

Can Sleep Apnea Be Self-Diagnosed?

Sleep apnea is generally too complex to be self-diagnosed. However, it’s very important to recognize any potential signs of sleep apnea as mentioned previously. Since many people don’t even realize they aren’t getting enough rest, it could be that their mood changes throughout the day and they are constantly sleepy for no apparent reason.

It’s also important for a patient to pay attention to their oral health. If teeth become overly sensitive, if gums begin receding or if any noticeable changes occur in the jaw, it’s time to see our doctors. Sometimes the early stages of sleep apnea may not be completely evident on the surface, but if a dentist is aware of the concerns, then they can take a closer look to help identify potential causes of sleep apnea and make suggestions accordingly.

Importance of Visiting a Dentist Regularly

There are many obvious benefits of visiting a dentist regularly. Since a person’s dental health plays a significant role in their overall health, getting frequent check-ups is critical. Dentists are often the first people who can identify a potential health problem, such as sleep apnea. Even if patients don’t recognize any signs of sleep apnea at home, a dentist may notice something to prompt them to seek another opinion. The longer sleep apnea goes undiagnosed; the more complications can arise from it. As such, the importance of regular dentist visits is vital and should be considered a necessity.

What Makes Our Practice Stand Out

At Fort Worth Oral Surgery, we care about our patients’ health more than anything else. When you walk through our doors, you will immediately be greeted with a smile and will feel a sense of comfort and relaxation while you wait. Our doctors are friendly and knowledgeable and will be upfront and honest with every patient during their initial consultation. We acknowledge sleep apnea as being a problem many Americans face, and it’s an issue we take very seriously. We know we are often the first line of defense when it comes to identifying the potential signs, and we will always point out anything we see to our patients.

If you’re in need of any type of dental work, be sure to contact our office by calling to set up an initial consultation. We will do a complete evaluation of your oral health and will never pressure you into any particular procedure. Your comfort is our priority, and we will go out of our way to ensure it’s possible.

MeeT

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Initial interactions were professional and thorough, I had two extractions for implants. My bone structure was good so no need for a bone graft. Dr. ScheidimenExplained the process in simplistic terms. The whole process took about 30-40 minutes. Shawna, my nurse patiently answered all of my questions and concerns. This was a very positive procedure. I am grateful to the team.

Holly Witte2021-12-28

I have the worst fear of doing anything with my teeth. Dr. k and his staff really knew how to make me feel comfortable and assured me that I was in the right hands. I had the best experience here and it definitely changed the way I dental treatment in the future. Thank you to the staff that were professional, punctual and so very kind. And a big thank you to Dr. K for taking such great care of me!! Highly recommend!!

Britney Singleton

Dr. Kostohryz and all his staff are great Highly recommend! You'll be in great hands!

Marisa L.2022-03-31

No nonsense, get er done dentist office made ya feel like everything will be OK, and they were right. Good job to all of you thank you. I will use yall for all my dentist stuff.

Shawn

Dr. Scheideman and his staff were fantastic! I had a wisdom tooth infection and horrible pain and my dentist referred me to FWOS. They were able to fit me in for a consult within 2 hours of my dentist calling, which was amazing. Yesterday I had all 4 wisdom teeth extracted. The nurse/tech (I think her name was Jennifer) was super friendly and confirmed all my information and put me at ease to prep me for surgery. Dr. Scheideman checked on me before we started and was very comforting. He even numbed the spot on my arm where the IV was placed so I literally felt no pain for the entire procedure. I woke up a little dizzy and numb but pain free. I was sent home with thorough instructions, pain medication, and aftercare supplies. Dr. Scheideman even texted me to check in on me the next day. I am shocked how little pain and swelling I've had, and I feel surprisingly good! Obviously I hope to never have oral surgery again but if I did I would run to FWOS. 10 of 10. Would recommend!

Lisa Deisinger2022-04-24

Best experience I have had with dentist / oral surgeon. Dr. Kostohryz did a phenomenal job helping my dad with his teeth extraction.

Benjamin B2021-12-30

I always have a hard time with dentists. I hate the tools and most of the time, I feel as if the staff is constantly judging me but the staff here is amazing! I came in today(they fit me in within 2 days) for wisdom tooth removal after an infection. My jaw had been shifted, couldn’t eat, constantly in pain but they put me to sleep, pulled the two teeth, and walked me out to my car. All done within 15 minutes. I’m in no pain at all and even got a checkup text from Dr. Scheideman. I still have two more wisdom teeth to be pulled so I will DEFINITELY be using them again!

addie turner

Dr. Kostohryz is wonderful. He is so kind and it's obvious that he genuinely cares about his patients. His entire team was great. From check in to check out the service was excellent. Highly recommend FWOS.

Jennifer Bonds2022-02-03

Would love to rate much much higher than 5 stars! From the second I was welcomed, I felt like family. Dr.Runyon and his staff, were more than accommodating to my needs. Got me in immediately (less than 24 hours) for wisdom teeth extraction. Dr. Runyon even called me the night of, during his personal time to check up on me. I had no swelling- and even went to work the next day! Thank you all for all of your hard work. It doesn’t go unnoticed. ♥️

Megan Swartz

I have have one tooth at a time pulled.A good thing I wear a mask when in public. Not working now so I can have teeth pulled over period of time. I have been tramatized and spent fortune on root canals, caps etc over many years. I am now 72 and have receding gums, caps falling off etc. I think God for Dr. Scheidleman. He is brilliant and he CARES about his patients.He is patient and gentle. I feel confident and I am not scared. Five more to pull then implants. Thank you Dr. Scheidleman and God Bless. His office team also 😃👍 great.

Brenda Joy