10-11-2024, 03:09 PM
(This post was last modified: 10-11-2024, 03:13 PM by Breathworker.)
Lower jaw or upper jaw?
Since I wear an oral appliance and the majority of users on here use a CPAP machine, I don't know how this post will resonate or what replies it will elicit.
I recently went to an orthodontist who was recommended as someone who treats sleep apnea people (I believe they are sometimes dubbed "airway orthodontists"). She asked if I was on a CPAP machine and I replied that I wear the appliance. She was a bit dismissive, perhaps even a bit scornful, claiming that the real problem is the upper mouth or jaw, the maxillary. She said since the appliance only brings the lower jaw or mandible forward, it really isn't doing anything to treat the root cause of the problem.
She looked in my mouth and said the roof of my mouth is too narrow (kind of like a roof with a steep slope), goes too far up in to my head, and said it should be wider or broader. She said I also have a tongue tie. She wants me to get a CBCT scan (which I had never heard of) of my upper mouth, and eventually go see this woman.
I have a visit next week back at the sleep study place where I did my polysomnography and was fitted for the oral appliance by the sleep dentist, who has himself been wearing one for the past 10 years. I imagine it will be a rather interesting conversation when I tell him what she said. I will let you all know how it goes.
I recently went to an orthodontist who was recommended as someone who treats sleep apnea people (I believe they are sometimes dubbed "airway orthodontists"). She asked if I was on a CPAP machine and I replied that I wear the appliance. She was a bit dismissive, perhaps even a bit scornful, claiming that the real problem is the upper mouth or jaw, the maxillary. She said since the appliance only brings the lower jaw or mandible forward, it really isn't doing anything to treat the root cause of the problem.
She looked in my mouth and said the roof of my mouth is too narrow (kind of like a roof with a steep slope), goes too far up in to my head, and said it should be wider or broader. She said I also have a tongue tie. She wants me to get a CBCT scan (which I had never heard of) of my upper mouth, and eventually go see this woman.
I have a visit next week back at the sleep study place where I did my polysomnography and was fitted for the oral appliance by the sleep dentist, who has himself been wearing one for the past 10 years. I imagine it will be a rather interesting conversation when I tell him what she said. I will let you all know how it goes.
