Having trouble with snoring and disturbed sleep? You might be experiencing Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), a serious, but common condition that can affect breathing while you sleep. Smile and Glow Dental Clinic in Mogappair, Jawahar Nagar, Chennai can offer comprehensive diagnosis and treatment for patients who are suffering from sleep-related breathing disorders. What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea? OSA is a condition where the airway becomes obstructed while you are sleeping, reducing or fully interrupting airflow. Airway obstruction is typically caused by relaxed muscles at the back of the throat, a large tongue, or a lower jaw positioned backward. Airway obstruction can cause loud snoring, decreased oxygen delivery to the brain, and frequent interruptions of sleep. A significant symptom of OSA is chronic snoring. If left untreated, chronic snoring can lead to complications for the heart and brain, overall health and well-being. Common Causes of OSA: • Weight or obesity • Large neck circumference • Enlarged tonsils or long soft palate • Small or recessed lower jaw • Nasal blockage (deviated septum, allergies, etc.) • Poor tongue posture during sleep • Sleep bruxism and clenching Signs to Look for: • Loud snoring that happens every night • Headaches upon waking • Always tired or sleepy during the day • Dry mouth or sore throat from sleeping • Limited focus and poor memory • Grinding or clenching teeth (bruxism) • Neck and shoulder discomfort • Swelling in the legs (in more advanced cases of OSA) At Smile and Glow Dental Clinic - Mogappair and Jawahar Nagar - we see many patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) struggling with TMJ pain, snoring or tiredness even after sleeping for an entire night. A true sign of sleep-disordered breathing! Diagnosis at Smile and Glow in Mogappair and Jawahar Nagar: Our protocol for diagnosis is here is comprehensive that includes: • Case history + STOP-BANG • Intraoral and extraoral clinical examination • CBCT 3D volumetric scan for airway analysis • Sleep study - Home Sleep Test / Polysomnography • Radiology - OPG, TMJ views, Lateral Cephalogram, MRI • T-Scan for bite force distribution • Jaw tracking & MAT scan • TENS (Ultra-low frequency neural stimulation) for jaw muscle relaxation Why treating OSA is important: Leaving sleep apnoea untreated puts you at risk for some serious health problems which include: • High blood pressure • Heart disease • Diabetes • Stroke • Chronic fatigue • Increased likelihood of accidents due to sleepy. Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) Treatment Options in Chennai: Depending on the severity of your condition, our clinical team provides: Conservative Treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) In the case of obstructive sleep apnea, simple lifestyle changes and non-invasive measures can significantly minimize obstructive sleep apnea severity. At Smile and Glow Dental Center - Jawahar Nagar, Mogappair, we recommend a number of conservative strategies: • Healthy weight – Losing excess body weight will reduce the fat deposits around the upper airway and allow for better airflow. • Avoidance of alcohol – Alcohol relaxes the muscles in the throat, which will worsen breathing interruptions while you sleep. • Limiting sedatives – Sedatives can minimize the body’s normal reflexes which can keep the airway open; therefore, increasing the chance of apnea episodes. • Change sleep position – Sleeping on your side with the support of a wedge pillow will keep the airway from collapsing, whereas sleeping on your back will worsen symptoms by allowing the airspace to collapse. • Nasal congestion treatment – Treatment for sinus or nasal blockage through nasal sprays before bedtime can improve breathing while sleeping at night. Oral Appliance Treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea - Jawahar Nagar & Mogappair At Smile and Glow Dental Clinic, Jawahar Nagar and Mogappair, our clinic aims to be the cornerstone of Sleep Apnea Treatments. Oral appliances are effective for treatment of mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and for patients with severe OSA who cannot tolerate nasal CPAP. Custom made dental appliances will reposition the lower jaw forward providing more airway space and ensuring thicker pressing down of the tongue. Just as easily as one would wear a mouthguard, our oral appliances help keep your airway open during the night for a very easy approach to your sleep apnea plan. Orthodontic Expansion for OSA Braces to expand reduced upper and lower jaw, in particular with airway restriction in young adults. ✅ CPAP & EPAP Therapy Other positive airway pressure devices that maintain airborne pressure to ensure airflow throughout the night. Our team ensures these home based devices are calibrated precisely so patients can sleep with comfort and compliance. ✅ Surgical options: • Tonsillectomy or reshaping of the uvula • Jaw advancement surgeries • Nasal surgery to correct deviated septum At Smile and Glow Dental Clinic, Mogappair and Jawahar Nagar, Chennai, our cross functional approach includes a neuromuscular orthodontist (not a typical orthodontist), ENT, physiotherapist, breathing coach, psychologist as well as a pulmonologist… We can take a comprehensive and root-cause approach to sleep apnea!

Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD) are present when there is dysfunction or pain involving the TMJ (temporomandibular joint). The TMJ is located just anterior to the ears and is the hinge joint that connects the lower jaw (mandible) to the temporal bone of the skull. The TMJ is used many times a day for everyday activities including chewing, talking, and yawning. ________________________________________ What Causes TMD? TMD can arise from many causes, often at the same time: • Genetics • Jaw injury • Arthritis (osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis) • Dislocation or malposition of the joint disc • Habitual clenching and grinding (bruxism) • Chewing on one side • Muscle tension due to stress • Malocclusion (bad bite) • Impacted third molars (wisdom teeth) • Bad dental restorations (high spots in fillings and crowns) • Sleep breathing disorders (obstructive sleep apnea, often called OSA) Signs & Symptoms of TMJ Disorders The symptoms of TMD can vary considerably from person to person but may include many of the following: • Pain or soreness in the jaw • Clicking, popping, or grinding noises in the joint • Difficulty or pain experienced when opening or closing the mouth or chewing • Lockjaw (inability or difficulty to open or close the mouth) • Ear-related symptoms: pain, tinnitus, hearing changes • Headaches, migraines • Neck, shoulder, or postural pain • Tooth or gum pain with no active decay • Midline shift or deep bite • Narrow dental arches (V shaped) • Habitual tongue thrusting • Numbness or tingling in the fingers or limbs • Apnea or other breathing issues ________________________________________ Diagnosis of TMD at Smile and Glow Dental Clinic At Smile and Glow Dental Clinic, we follow a neuromuscular dentistry protocol including: • Detailed medical history and clinical evaluation • Detailed intraoral examination, and extraoral-foundation examination • Detailed bite analysis through T-Scan (Digital occlusal analysis) • Radiographs: Full mouth x-ray (OPG), Lateral Cephalobram, TMJ views • Advanced imaging including Airway CBCT 3D volumetry, MRI, and whole body scan if required to rule out TMD contributors • Postural assessment • Sleep study (HST or PSG) • Functional tests using: o ULF-TENS (Ultra Low Frequency Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) o Jaw Tracker o MAT Scan What is TENS and How Can it Help TENS therapy is a major part of neuromuscular dentistry. It uses low-frequency electrical impulses to: • Relax muscles of the jaw and face • Block pain from reaching the brain • Increase levels of endorphins (natural pain-relievers) • Improve blood circulation reducing inflammation and tensions And then you'll record post muscle relaxation, and you'll have your natural jaw alignment to be able determine necessary treatment. ________________________________________ Advanced TMJ Disorder Treatment Options at Smile and Glow - Mogappair At Smile and Glow, both neuromuscular dentists and orthodontists take a holistic approach to treat TMJ-related pain. Treatment will include: • Removable splints (MORA - Mandibular Orthopedic Repositioning Appliance), • Orthotic therapy, • Occlusal corrections (braces, restorations), • Or, surgery if all else fails It is important to state that methods of treatment will be devised based on your jaw joint position, muscle function, and bite. ________________________________________ Team-Based Holistic Care for Long-Term Relief Managing TMD and other neuromuscular disorders will involve collaboration from: • Physiotherapists • ENT professionals • Sleep and breath professionals • Psychologists • Yoga/posture professionals Early diagnosis is critical. In general, we recommend evaluating every child by the age of seven. Anyone with chronic jaw, facial, neck, or body pain should be assessed immediately.

Experience Lasting Relief with Neuromuscular Dentistry Neuromuscular dentistry provides a holistic, comprehensive treatment for facial pain issues, TMJ disorders, and body postural issues. While conventional dentists will only look at your teeth and gums, neuromuscular dentists identify and restore all of the pieces that make up one system—the jaw joints (TMJ), muscles, teeth, and nerves work to get function back to the entire craniofacial system supporting natural chewing, breathing, and swallowing. How Does Neuromuscular Imbalance Impact the Body? A misaligned jaw, misaligned bite (malocclusion), and chronic stress can pull your jaw out of alignment. When this happens the entire skull will sit unevenly on the cervical spine. This will put strain on surrounding muscles, leading to muscle spasms and radiated pain through the neck, shoulders, back, hips and legs. Neuromuscular dental therapies are utilized to reposition the jaws to a more optimal position and correct the bite. This can help alleviate muscle effort and strain leading to better body posture. The Consequences of Chewing with the Same Side Favoring one side while chewing may lead to an asymmetrical bite and an oblique occlusal plane. While chewing, this produces pressure in the chewing muscles on that side while putting strain on larger postural muscles such as the trapezius and sternocleidomastoid muscle that link the jaw to the neck and vertebral spine. This can easily lead to poor postural habits, back pain, sciatica, and leg fatigue when viewed as patterns and causes over time. Common Signs and Symptoms of Neuromuscular Disorders Watch for the following symptoms: • Jaw pain or TMJ pain • Clicking or popping when you use your jaw • Inability to open mouth fully • Headaches or migraines • Ringing in the ears or tinnitus • Inability to hold your head or shoulders up • Numbness or tingling in your fingers • Back pain (in particular L4, L5) • Sciatica or leg pain • Generalized muscle stiffness Smile and Glow Diagnostic Process for Facial Pain Using a multi-specialty approach the Smile and Glow Team invokes a systematic diagnostic process to determine the limitations associated with TMJ or other neuromuscular disorders: • Thorough history, posture, and sleeping position assessment. • Full mouth and extra-oral clinical examination. • Imagery: OPG, Lateral Ceph, CBCT, TMJ open/close views, airway scans, MRI, whole-body scans. • Sleep analysis either through home sleep test or polysomnogram. • XSens (external ground surface maxillary skull trackers), ULF-TENS, jaw tracking, MAT Scan and T-Scan, our digital device for measuring bite force. Why We Use T-Scan T-Scan provides a digital map of your bite to evaluate occlusal imbalances that may be causing you pain or long-term dysfunction. The Role of TENS Therapy in Neuromuscular Dentistry Ultra Low-Frequency Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (ULF-TENS) helps relax overworked jaw muscles and facilitates healing. TENS has been shown to: • Release muscle tightness. • Block pain signals from reaching the brain. • Increase endorphins, the body’s natural pain-relievers. • Increase blood flow to accelerate recovery. Once the muscle is relaxed we can take an accurate record of your true jaw position and build you a customized treatment plan. Neuromuscular Dentistry is effective for: • Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD) • Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) • Cranio-Cervical-Mandibular Disorders (CCMD) Holistic Treatment Options at Smile and Glow After evaluation and diagnosis our neuromuscular orthodontist might recommend: • mandibular orthopedic repositioning appliance (MORA) • orthotic splints, TENS therapy, or myomonitor therapy (J5 Myomonitor) • Restorative or orthodontic correction for stable occlusion. And we will work with other specialists such as ENT, pulmonologists, physiotherapists, and psychologists, if necessary. Start Accessing Treatment Early Around age 7 would be optimal, but anyone who has had chronic signs and symptoms (jaw pain, facial tension, neck stiffness, or shoulder or back stiffness) should be evaluated at the first sign of any problems to avoid worsening of symptoms.