By: Dr. Elizabeth Eggert
It may seem strange that your dentists, Dr. Elizabeth Eggert and Dr. Jeff Eggert at Eggert Family Dentistry in North Oaks, MN, could play a role in helping you understand how well you breathe, but advances in dental technology have created exciting opportunities to improve your overall health. One of the most valuable tools available today is Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT), a specialized 3D imaging system that allows dentists to see far more than just your teeth. While dentists are not Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) medical specialists and do not diagnose or treat many airway disorders, CBCT imaging can sometimes reveal signs that suggest your airway may be compromised. In many cases, this information helps you become a stronger advocate for your own health and seek the specialized care you need.
If you grind your teeth, clench your jaw, wake up with headaches, experience jaw discomfort, or struggle with poor sleep, your teeth may be trying to tell a bigger story. For years, dentistry focused primarily on repairing the damage caused by grinding and clenching. While protecting and restoring your teeth remains important, Drs. Eggert now recognize that airway compromise can sometimes be an underlying contributor to these habits. When your body struggles to get adequate airflow during sleep, it may unconsciously respond by shifting your jaw position or activating muscles that contribute to grinding and clenching. Simply repairing worn or broken teeth without addressing the underlying cause leads to ongoing damage and frustration, both for your teeth and your overall health!
This is where CBCT technology becomes such a valuable tool. The detailed three-dimensional images allow your dentists at Eggert Family Dentistry to evaluate structures that may influence your breathing and airway function. While the scan itself does not replace a medical evaluation by a medical professional, it can provide important clues that warrant further investigation. In some cases, you may discover that enlarged tissues, anatomical restrictions, narrow airways, or other factors could be contributing to your symptoms. Having this information empowers you to ask informed questions and seek appropriate care from medical professionals who specialize in airway health and sleep-related breathing disorders.
At Eggert Family Dentistry in North Oaks, MN, Dr. Elizabeth Eggert and Dr. Jeff Eggert are passionate about helping you understand the bigger picture behind your oral health. They recognize that healthy teeth do not exist in isolation from the rest of your body. When they identify potential airway concerns, their goal is not to replace your ENT physician, sleep physician, or other medical specialists. Instead, they work collaboratively with those providers, helping ensure that you have the information necessary to pursue answers. This team-based approach often leads to better outcomes because everyone involved is focused on the same goal—helping you breathe better, sleep better, and enjoy better overall health.
Perhaps the most exciting part of modern dentistry is that your dental visit can now provide insights that extend far beyond cavities and gum disease. By using advanced technologies like CBCT imaging, your dentists at Eggert Family Dentistry can help identify concerns that may otherwise go unnoticed for years. If you have been struggling with grinding, clenching, poor sleep, fatigue, or other symptoms that seem difficult to explain, a conversation about your airway may be worthwhile. Dr. Elizabeth Eggert and Dr. Jeff Eggert love helping you advocate for yourself and connect with the right healthcare professionals. Together, you can take meaningful steps toward protecting not only your smile, but also your long-term health and quality of life.
Call Eggert Family Dentistry at 651-482-8412 today for insights into your TOTAL health!