Issue 40.12
When the kids or grandkids come for a visit do you hearthem snore? Maybe you hear little ones grindtheir teeth or make unusual sounds whenthey sleep. Do your kids tell you of your grandkids having emotional problems, attention deficit problems or bed wetting? How about sleep walking or night terrors? Do your grandkids wake up screaming and yetthey are not awake and you can’t getthem to wake up? Ever wonder how early or at what age a deviated nasal septum starts to develop? (very important) What about severely worn down baby teeth (real short or flat)? Are your teeth really crooked and worn down? Do you have acid reflux problems and your teeth just seem to be melting away with pot holes all overthem and a lot of sensitivity to cold? Do you or your kids or grandkids have frequent headaches inthenight or inthemorning? Doestheback of your head ache besides being tender? Do you ache around your jaw joint? Are you waking up unable to open your mouth wide because your jaw seems stuck?
Ok, enough questions. Answers to almost all ofthese questions revolve around our airway, both oral and nasal. In short, a dentist trained in Craniofacial growth and development, pathology, and dental sleep medicine, can give you answers and solutions to all ofthesymptoms listed above. TMJ and sleep problems are intertwined to a high degree. Pediatric sleep apnea is often a result of overly enlarged tonsils or too narrow a palate and nasal structures. Tonsillectomy and rapid palatal expansion will cure 95% of you grandkids nighttime and daytime problems. The AAOP (American Academy of Oralfacial Pain), ortheAACP (American Academy of Crainiofacial Pain), ortheAADSM (American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine) are a few organizations of dentists who take great interest inthese kinds of problems. They list members by State and City.
Phillip Hall is a practicing general dentist in St. George. He is also head of the St. George Craniofacial Treatment Center,and operates St. George Dental Careers,a successful dental assisting school. Board Certified Diplomate of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine. Appointments for general dentistry or dentures call 656-1111. For sleep apnea appliances or TMJ problems call 634-8338.