Airway Dentistry in Oakbrook Terrace
Breathing well is key to full mind and body wellness. A healthy, open airway can dramatically affect one’s sleep, physical appearance, and overall wellbeing. George Rivera, DDS offers a personalized approach to airway dentistry. We provide our patients with conservative therapies for opening your airways with oral expansion appliances.
More advanced therapies and treatments are also available through our partnership with a local hospital. Our team is dedicated to ensuring that you receive the solution you need to help improve your breathing through compassionate and proactive airway dentistry.
What Is Airway Dentistry?
Airway dentistry is a new and growing field of study that focuses on the mouth’s structure and how it impacts a person’s breathing. Our ability to breathe naturally relies on an open airway, functional jaw joints, and stable oral health. When any of these factors compromise the natural breathing process, it can lead to dire health risks or chronic conditions.
As a skilled and experienced dentist, Dr. George Rivera has an in-depth understanding of oral health in every capacity—from dental and gum health to the mouth’s soft tissues, throat, and airway. With advanced and continued training, Dr. Rivera can help patients identify oral airway obstructions and promote good airway health in children and adults.
Airway Health Screenings in Oakbrook Terrace
Dr. Rivera screens for airway and sleep-breathing disorders during his comprehensive oral exams. Though we do not treat these disorders with CPAP devices at our dental practice, we are happy to refer you to a local, highly experienced ear, nose, and throat (ENT) doctor.
During your exam, Dr. Rivera will assess your breathing ability and look for signs of tooth wear, tongue positioning, and the condition of your mouth’s soft tissues. Our dental team’s goal is to help you prevent sleep breathing disorders to avoid other health issues from developing in the future.
We Can Help Improve Your Breathing
At George Rivera, DDS, we do not treat sleep breathing disorders with devices. However, we do use Invisalign and expansion appliances to open up a patient’s nasal passage and oral airway. By expanding the space in a patient’s mouth and nose, air can more easily and efficiently pass through their airways.
In addition to improving a person’s ability to breathe, airway dentistry can potentially even eliminate a person’s snoring during sleep. Dr. Rivera partners with a local hospital and a trusted ENT to help patients receive the treatment they need to breathe and sleep better.
Signs of Sleep-Disordered Breathing
There are several signs of sleep breathing disorders and sleep-disordered breathing. Your airway dentist and ENT will review your symptoms and develop a personalized treatment plan that best fits your needs, lifestyle, and budget.
Some of the most common signs of sleep-disordered breathing include:
- Chronic lethargy and tiredness
- Brain fog
- Headaches, especially after waking up
- Grogginess throughout the day
- Inability to focus
- Snoring
- Dry mouth
- Sore throat
- Irritability
- Gasping or choking during sleep
Sleep breathing disorders and other sleep-disordered breathing can affect men, women, and children of all ages. If you or a loved one notices you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s time to talk to your airway dentist. Dr. Rivera can help you seek the appropriate treatment to protect and expand your airway so you can reap the benefits of healthy respiration.
Airway Dentistry in Oakbrook Terrace, IL
Are you ready to get a full night’s sleep? Is it time you finally feel rested, alert, and energized? Our team at George Rivera, DDS can help you find the best solution for your airway health. We believe expanding one’s airway can improve their ability to function in day-to-day life, as well as enhance their overall long-term health.
Call us today at (630) 592-4949 to learn more about airway dentistry or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Rivera.
We look forward to helping you get a better night's sleep!
Benefits of Airway Dentistry
Airway dentistry has many benefits.
Improved Sleep Quality
Airway dentistry helps alleviate sleep disorders and leads to more restful, uninterrupted sleep.
Enhanced Overall Health
Improving airway function can reduce the risk of related health issues like hypertension and heart problems.
Improved Aesthetics
Airway dentistry supports proper alignment which can lend to a more balanced facial appearance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Airway dentistry is a specific practice designed to enhance the overall health of adults and children through improved nasal breathing. This specialty holds that the ideal face and jaw development depends on how your tongue rests on the roof of the mouth when your lips are together. This positioning allows free breathing through your nose, especially when you sleep.
How Does Dr. George Rivera Treat Airway Issues?
Dr. George Rivera's goal through airway dentistry is to reduce or even eliminate mouth-breathing altogether. A growing body of clinical research and evidence indicates that mouth-breathing harms children and adults. Therefore, we promote open airways by adjusting your jaw position wider and more forward, which provides a better resting space for the tongue, allowing for healthy nasal breathing.
Our airway dentists in Oakbrook Terrace receive special training to diagnose and treat patients suffering from sleep-disordered breathing. Our goal is to improve the health and well-being of patients by delivering a better night's sleep and a beautiful smile with well-aligned teeth.
What Is Sleep-Disordered Breathing?
Many patients suffer from "sleep-disordered breathing," a constellation of symptoms and problems related to narrow jaws and airways. An airway dentist near me helps eliminate this condition through specialized orthodontic techniques that treat dental malocclusions. By correcting these misalignments, Dr. Rivera helps patients achieve improved oral and nasal cavity volume.
One of the benefits of airway dentistry is its collaborative approach, meaning that dentists collaborate with other clinicians, such as physicians who treat the ear, nose, and throat. We also work with occupational myofunctional therapists and chiropractors to achieve optimal results for their patients. If you are searching for an "airway dentist near me," we are happy to welcome you for a consultation.
An airway-centric dentist—like your dentist in Oakbrook Terrace—is concerned with your airway and optimal breathing. The airway dentist wants to ensure that nothing structural is hampering your ability to
breathe safely and comfortably.
About Airway Dentistry
Airway dentistry starts with assessing your oral structure to ensure everything works correctly. This includes a TMJ evaluation, a look at tooth wear and integrity, your bite alignment, and other specifics.
Issues that impact breathing or result from breathing issues may include orthodontic problems, TMJ or TMD, anatomical situations, bruxism, and sleep apnea.
In some cases, your dentist can treat the issues. However, we work with a trusted specialist for more complex issues like anatomical structures and TMJ.
Safe and easy breathing is imperative to your health and well-being. For example, sleep apnea can put your health at serious risk. It has been linked to high blood pressure and heart attack.
Signs of obstructive breathing may include any combination of the following:
- Mouth breathing
- Sore throat
- Dry mouth
- Mood changes
- Daytime sleepiness
- Waking frequently
Consult an Airway Dentist Near Me Today
If you suspect a breathing problem, sometimes only at night or during sleep, we encourage you to schedule an evaluation with our dentist.
Call us today to arrange your assessment or if you have questions about our treatments and services.
An airway dentist evaluates oral structural issues that interfere with breathing. Your airway dentist near me may prescribe treatments or refer you to a trusted specialist for care.
Issues that can influence breathing or result from breathing issues include:
- Orthodontic problems
- TMJ complications
- Anatomical issues
- Bruxism
- Sleep apnea
Your Oakbrook Terrace dentist can evaluate your oral structure to diagnose specific issues or refer you to our trusted specialist for follow-up and treatment.
Airway Dentistry and You
Specific issues that complicate breathing, like sleep apnea, can be severe. You risk high blood pressure, heart attack, and systemic health complications without treatment. Fortunately, airway dentistry and the specialists we work with can provide treatment for safe and restful sleep.
Additionally, TMJ can restrict jaw movement, making nighttime rest difficult. Without treatment, TMJ can worsen, making it difficult to chew and speak comfortably.
An airway dentist advocates for you and helps you get the therapies you need, whether orthodontics through Invisalign® or treatment with a medical specialist. Our team always has your best interests in mind.
For Airway Dentistry, Contact Your Dentist in Oakbrook Terrace, IL
Contact a helpful dental team member today to learn more about airway dentistry or schedule a consultation and evaluation with our knowledgeable dentist. We look forward to helping you enjoy easy breathing!
There are many questions and myths about airway dentistry that we are here to debunk! Here are three common misconceptions about airway dentistry that we often hear, demystified for you by the airway dentist in Oakbrook that patients trust.
#1 Airway Dentistry Is Only for Mild Sleep Apnea
Dr. Rivera can help with some forms of severe sleep apnea with alternative solutions, like expansion appliances, to continuous positive air pressure (CPAP) therapy.
#2 Everyone Who Snores Has Sleep Apnea
While loud snoring is a telltale sign of sleep apnea, not everyone who snores has the disorder.
#3 Sleep Apnea Is Not That Serious
Sleep apnea is actually a very serious sleep disorder that can significantly impact the quality of your life. Sleep apnea can cause or contribute to these concerns:
- Heart disease
- High blood pressure
- Depression and mood swings
- Stroke
- Heart failure
- Diabetes
- Chronic fatigue
- Brain fog
- Dementia
Getting a good night's rest is integral to overall health and well-being, so it's important not to ignore the signs of sleep apnea.
If you're looking for an airway dentist near me in Oakbrook, contact our team at (630) 592-4949 to learn more about how Dr. Rivera and our team can help you reclaim your rest.
Yes, airway dentistry can often help reduce or even eliminate chronic headaches, especially when those
headaches are linked to poor breathing, sleep-disordered breathing, or bite misalignment. A restricted airway can cause the body to work harder just to breathe, particularly during sleep. This added strain can lead to issues such as jaw tension, teeth grinding, poor sleep quality, and ultimately, chronic headaches.
What Does An Airway Dentist Do?
As a dental airway specialist, Dr. George Rivera evaluates more than just your teeth. He examines the structure of your jaws, tongue, and nasal passages, and how they may be contributing to airway restriction. If your headaches are caused by clenching, TMJ tension, or sleep issues like undiagnosed sleep apnea, improving your airway may provide long-lasting relief.
Treatment may include oral appliance therapy, myofunctional therapy, orthodontic adjustments, or guidance on jaw development in younger patients. These approaches are designed to improve airflow, reduce muscular tension, and support better sleep, all of which can help relieve headaches.
Call Us for Airway Dentistry in Oakbrook Terrace, IL
If you’re dealing with frequent headaches and suspect your airway might be involved, it may be time to consult an expert. Searching for an "airway dentist near me" is a great first step. Dr. Rivera is a trusted dental airway specialist in Oakbrook Terrace, here to help you breathe better and live pain-free.
Meet Our Doctor:
Dr. George Rivera
Dentist
Dr. Rivera is a highly skilled and experienced dentist who earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree in general dentistry from Loyola University’s School of Dentistry. He masterfully combines the science and artistry of dentistry by helping his patients enjoy healthier lives with beautiful smiles.
Over the years, Dr. Rivera has practiced dentistry in hospital settings and local neighborhoods around Chicago before starting his own Oakbrook Terrace dental office in 2009. Dr. Rivera is grateful to work everyday with an awesome team that he considers his extended family ...
Featured Blog Posts - Airway Dentistry
How Does Airway Dentistry Differ from Traditional Dentistry?
Are you constantly tired, breathe through your mouth, or struggle to breathe while sleeping? These could be signs of an airway obstruction that's limiting your oxygen intake and impacting your health more than you realize. While traditional dentistry focuses on your teeth and gums, airway dentistry takes a broader view. ...
3 Airway Dentistry Myths Bedunked
Is your loud snoring keeping your bed partner awake at night? Do you often feel exhausted or fatigued by the afternoon? Do you ever wake up with a headache or migraine? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may be suffering from a sleep disorder called sleep ...
What Does an Airway Dentist Do?
When you aren’t breathing the way you should, it can disrupt your life in several ways. To breathe correctly, you must have an open airway, good oral health, and adequately functioning jaw joints. A new and growing field known as airway dentistry focuses on how your mouth’s structures can affect ...