Sleep Apnea in Nashville, TN - Center for Advanced Dentistry

Sleep apnea treatment falls right in line with Nashville dentist Dr. Forbes’ neuromuscular approach to dentistry and smile care. The jaw helps support the airway, and the development and position of the jaw can contribute to sleep apnea. Because of their training in the positioning and development of the jaw, neuromuscular dentists are ideally suited to survey and weigh the alternative sleep apnea treatments.

If you are in search of an alternative sleep apnea treatment in Nashville, please contact the Center for Advanced Dentistry online or by telephone at (615) 383-6787 to book an appointment with Dr. Forbes.

Sleep Apnea Symptoms

Sleep apnea is a chronic condition in which frequent breathing disruption prevents restful sleep. It is generally characterized as being central (CSA), obstructive (OSA), or a combination of the two. Obstructive sleep apnea is, by far, the most common type, with only about 2% of sufferers having only central sleep apnea.

The National Institute of Health reports that roughly 12 million Americans suffer from this disorder. But that number may be much higher in reality because many sleep apnea sufferers fail to realize they have the condition. As much as 80% of sleep apnea sufferers may be undiagnosed.

The traditional symptoms of sleep apnea include:

Chronic, loud snoring
Chronic fatigue
Trouble concentrating
Short-term memory loss
Moodiness
Weight control problems
High blood pressure
Insomnia

Part of the problem with diagnosing sleep apnea is that the most characteristic symptom, loud snoring, occurs when a person is asleep. It is often only reported when a spouse is disturbed by the sound, and then it is often dismissed as a nuisance. Doctors commonly misdiagnose sleep apnea. For example, in the deadly 2013 train derailment in the Bronx, the driver had been misdiagnosed as having low testosterone rather than sleep apnea.

ARE YOU AT RISK?

Technically, almost anyone is at risk for sleep apnea, and we are increasingly learning that many of the sufferers don’t fit the traditional profile. Traditional risk factors for sleep apnea include:

Being over age 40
Having a large neck, tonsils, or tongue
Having a small jaw bone
Chronic gastroesophageal reflux
Deviated septum
Family sleep apnea history

When left untreated, sleep apnea has been linked to such serious, systemic health problems as heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, and more. Sleep apnea sufferers are also more likely to be involved in serious traffic accidents and may be more likely to commit suicide.

Sleep Apnea Treatment

Since head, neck, and face physiology can play a major part in the development of sleep apnea as well as its treatment, our Nashville dentist’s first step with any sleep apnea sufferer will be to conduct a thorough neuromuscular examination.

The aim of this examination will be to uncover treatment options that work instead of, or in conjunction with, the traditional medical treatment, which is a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) mask.

For instance, Dr. Forbes can design a custom orthotic device that keeps the tongue and face muscles in place during sleep to prevent apnea from happening. Some of these are designed to be used instead of CPAP, while others are used in conjunction with CPAP. Since the primary shortcoming of CPAP is that many people dislike it and do not use it, having more comfortable and convenient treatment options can be life-saving.

We offer many different oral appliances, including the MicrO2 appliance. This is a small device, which makes it very comfortable and better for jaw health. It offers more tongue room than other devices. And it’s easier to adjust. There are no screws or elastics to adjust. Just swap out different parts to get the most comfortable configuration.

If you are in search of alternative sleep apnea treatments in Nashville, please contact the Center for Advanced Dentistry at (615) 383-6787.

Testimonials

The new owner of Center For Advanced Dentistry, Dr. Mckinnon Forbes has done several procedures on me when was practicing in North Carolina and I... read more

Beverly A.

I had an amazing first experience at the Center for Advanced Dentistry. I felt prioritized, taken care of, and respected as a customer. For most... read more

Noah W.

If you have dental anxiety, this is for you! In April of last year, I had to have a molar extracted (from a different dentist) and the experience... read more

Sammie U.

They deserve a 10 out of 10 from this patient!!! AHH-MAZING! We had a life changing experience for our household. When you have dental anxiety and... read more

Richelle T.

So happy to have found a dentist that feels like home :) I was looking for a holistically minded practice, and CFAD checked all the boxes. our... read more

Jamie C.

Dr. Forbes is THE BEST!!! Not only is he an expert in his field, he is personable, kind, and his staff made me comfortable at every turn. I gladly... read more

Rachel S.

I was extremely hesitant to try yet another dentist. I needed to get another opinion for my own peace of mind though, so I gave CFAD a try. I had... read more

Tamara B.

Sammie U.

If you have dental anxiety, this is for you! In April of last year, I had to have a molar extracted (from a different dentist) and the experience was quite horrible. I had already developed some dental anxiety prior to this, but this particular visit sent it through the roof. I knew I needed a new dentist and I wanted to find a holistic one who would align with my values and refer out to other practices as little as possible. I found Dr. Forbes at Center for Advanced Dentistry and scheduled a consult knowing I would eventually need an implant to replace my missing tooth. Crissy, their patient coordinator, spent almost three hours with me that first day! She was incredibly kind, great at helping educate me about the root causes of the issues going on in my mouth, patient answering all my questions, and so encouraging when I shared with her how much I struggled with anxiety when getting dental work done. Her passion for helping others in this field radiates through her and quickly helps build an immediate trust. We discussed several different options to best fit my timeline, budget, fears/anxiety, etc. I chose to have two additional teeth extracted (both were root canals that I had wanted out for years) and have implants placed in the, what would be three missing areas. At first, I had decided I wanted to be fully put under with anesthesia because I was so nervous about the procedure. But as we got closer, I started to wonder if I could do it without since it was so expensive, and overall not the healthiest option either. Dr. Forbes and Crissy encouraged me that I could do the procedure with alternative calming methods that they offer and that if at any point I felt like I couldn’t handle it, we could stop. Y’all, I don’t have the words to express the gratitude toward Dr. Forbes and the whole CAD office on surgery day. From their patience in waiting for me to be ready for them to start, to holding my hand and wiping away my tears. From Dr. Forbes communicating with me throughout the whole process, to pushing through seven hours with me in the chair to wrap up what I believe to be the best work anyone could have performed. I’m not even three days post-op and I can’t believe how little pain I’ve felt. I will never trust another dentist like I do Dr. Forbes and I can honestly say I’m less fearful now for future procedures. I look forward to the future dental work and corrections I’ve needed for such a long time! I never thought that would be possible. Thank you, Center for Advanced Dentistry!

Tamara B.

I was extremely hesitant to try yet another dentist. I needed to get another opinion for my own peace of mind though, so I gave CFAD a try. I had seen multiple friends post about them and from the look of their website and social media they looked like they aligned well with my holistic approach to health in general. Backstory: I have had a handful of dental emergencies as an adult, that always led to tooth removal. They were at traditional dentist offices that seemed to want the quick fix to everything. I believe my teeth probably could have been saved if I had known more about preventative oral health and the holistic mindset around teeth in general back then. Most dentists (at least the many that I have seen) do not educate you on full body functional health. They focus on service level in my opinion. I needed more than this. I was tired of not understanding. So I learned more about holistic options. I have a lot of anxiety seeing dentists because every visit for over a decade was always bad news. I need my bite corrected, a few implants, and some small fires to be put out. I don't need a celebrity smile like other doctors have pushed, and I very much like my smile how it is. What I need is better function of my overall health. I didn't want braces at 33 and the suggested gameplan from another doctor was many years of work. Going into CFAD today, I felt this huge weight and confusion over me. I was nervous and defeated, but I walked out empowered and confident! My consultation was more like having coffee with a friend. Crissy immediately helped my nerves dissipate with her personality and gentle demeanor. We talked for hours. The wealth of knowledge that was poured into me was exactly what I was searching for. She was very likeminded about health in general and made me feel safe to ask questions. She eased into the plan for my mouth and I never felt like she was rushing or waiting to move on to the next topic. I could have talked to her all day. She really made me completely comfortable before I even saw Dr. Forbes. So by the time he came in, I had zero anxiety. That alone is a miracle in itself, because it's never happened before. The plan for my mouth is different than I expected, but I am so excited for their expertise to be a success story for me. I actually understand the plan and why. Another first! I don't need to get braces, and it actually won't take much time at all to bring functionality back into my mouth. If you are on the fence about big dental work, I highly suggest meeting with Center for Advanced Dentistry for a consultation. I can't wait to start improving and healing my mouth with this amazing team.

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