How Biological Dentistry Can Treat Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome

Do you think you get enough sleep but wake up exhausted and foggy-headed as if you did not get enough? You may assume you have insomnia or are stressed out, but you might have UARS, or upper airway resistance syndrome. This article covers treatment available in biological dentistry for the condition.

UARS, like obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), causes the soft tissue of the throat to contract and the airway to shrink—the only difference is that apneas (breathing pauses) and hypopneas (breathing decreases) are absent or very minimal in patients with UARS. To overcome the narrowing or congestion of their airways, patients with UARS must exert more effort when breathing. To maximize respiratory efforts, the brain must awaken from deeper phases of sleep.

This first consultation entails a thorough examination of the mouth, gums, and gum pocket depths, as well as noting cavities and tooth loss via dental x-rays. Diet, fitness, stress control, sleep habits, and alcohol and tobacco consumption are all examined. Blood pressure, weight, blood sugar, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels are among the other medical measures assessed by the biological dentist. Much of this is done to see whether patients are at risk for diabetes, heart disease, stroke, or any serious health problems.

The unique assessment, which includes posture images, muscle monitoring, cranio-facial development examination, and radiographic airway collapsibility evaluation, also helps to show whether patients are at high risk of sleep-disordered breathing like upper airway resistance syndrome.

The treatment will be tailored to the patient, their age, and the symptoms they are experiencing. In children, oral myofunctional therapy and myobrace devices are commonly used to promote normal jaw growth by encouraging proper nasal breathing, swallowing, and lip seal. When patients cannot comply with their daily exercises or visit the dentist too late, there is a need to use mechanical expansion devices or homeoblock appliances combined with myofunctional therapy devices to stimulate jaw growth.

In adults, the treatment will usually begin by managing the symptoms and minimizing pain, if any, by repositioning the jaw to decompress the temporomandibular joint, minimize occlusal inhibitions, and clear the oropharyngeal airway space. This is achievable with splint therapy and will help relax and stretch the supporting muscles to prevent spasms.

After patients stop experiencing the symptoms, the biological dentist can prescribe oral myofunctional therapy with an ALF or homeoblock device to reposition the teeth to a new dental arch placement. This will help patients learn how to breathe, swallow, maintain proper cervical spine alignment, reinforce the airway muscles to avoid relapse, and decrease airway collapsibility while promoting normal jaw morphogenesis with these natural motions.

Patients with UARS should be diagnosed because of the health complications involved with the condition and because they could be at a greater risk of developing obstructive sleep apnea in the future. One of the most significant reasons to treat UARS is to improve the patient's sleep quality. Visit a biological dentistry office if you suspect you might have upper airway resistance syndrome.