Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Its Effects on a Patient with Facial Pain

Not many are informed of the several complications that accompany Obstructive Sleep Apnea or OSA. One of them is craniofacial pain. It includes components like primary headaches, temporomandibular disorders and chronic facial pain. Specialists attending to treating OSA should consider the continuous facial pain that influences the standard of sleep. In our previous blog we have highlighted some manifestations of sleep apnea in Raleigh. Dentists attending OSA must be familiar with the origins of this pain to make appropriate reciprocal referrals for better treatment effect.

Read on to gather more information related to OSA and its effects on individuals with facial pain in Raleigh.

Understanding Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Raleigh:

Sleep Apnea can become a serious sleep disorder and can result in repeated interferences in breathing while sleeping. The most familiar category of sleep apnea is OSA. The throat muscles relax periodically in OSA leading to the blocking of the patient’s airway while in sleep.

Understanding Facial Pain in Raleigh:

It is a condition that triggers aching and persistent pain in the facial region. It produces localized pain that is sharp, burning, and aching. Periods of respite from pain are rare in patients. Facial pain is generated by facial trauma, dental work, or sinus problems.

Similarity to Trigeminal Neuralgia:

This condition is similar to trigeminal neuralgia. It has many distinct characteristics of symptoms and time-spans. Trigeminal neuralgia impacts one part of a patient's face and abrogates itself. But facial pain in Raleigh normally affects each part of the face without any remission.

Symptoms Related to Facial Pain:

The most widespread symptom of facial pain in Raleigh is a dull pain that persists especially surrounding the ear region. The pain diffuses up towards the upper head region and down towards the neck region. Talking excessively, yawning and chewing could worsen it.

Root Causes of Facial Pain in Raleigh:

It is a neurological illness with many causes like:

• Migraines
• Sinus infections
• Facial trauma
• Dental infections
• Disorders affecting the cervical spine
• Vagus nerve tumors
• Trigeminal nerve laceration

Medicaments for Facial Pain:

A thorough neurological evaluation is necessary for diagnosis. X-rays, as well as MRI Scans, can back up the findings. These way oral surgeons can eliminate suspects like cluster headaches, trigeminal neuralgia and migraines. Each patient is given different solutions. Some acknowledge nerve blocks but others may respond to antidepressants or muscle relaxants.

Consult With our Dentist for Facial Pain in Raleigh:

If you are domiciled in Raleigh and require diagnosis and medication for facial pain caused by Obstructive Sleep Apnea, consider Dr. Charles Ferzli at TMJ & Sleep Therapy Centre of Raleigh-Durham. Our dentist is a sleep apnea specialist in Raleigh, and serving under him will identify & resolve this non-typical facial pain systematically. For more information, call us at (919) 323-4242 and schedule an appointment today.