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Sleep Apnoea and Snoring

Many Australian adults suffer from chronic snoring—40 per cent of men and 30 percent of women, according to the Sleep Health Foundation. According to SNORE Australia, it is believed that 25 per cent of men and nine per cent of women in Australia have significant obstructive sleep apnoea.
Sleep apnoea is a common condition that can have serious consequences on an individual’s overall health. It’s best to get treatment sooner rather than later so that you—and your sleep partner—can go back to getting a good night of rest.
If you are a chronic snorer and wonder if you have sleep apnoea, Smilee Dental can talk to you about getting a sleep study as well as possible solutions if it is determined you have sleep apnoea.

obstructive sleeping apnoea

This occurs when the muscles in the back of your throat relax. These muscles support the soft palate, the triangular piece of tissue hanging from the soft palate (uvula), the tonsils, the side walls of the throat and the tongue.
When the muscles relax, your airway narrows or closes as you breathe in. You can't get enough air, which can lower the oxygen level in your blood. Your brain senses your inability to breathe and briefly rouses you from sleep so that you can reopen your airway. This awakening is usually so brief that you don't remember it.
You might snort, choke or gasp. This pattern can repeat itself five to 30 times or more each hour, all night, impairing your ability to reach the deep, restful phases of sleep.

COmplications

Sleep apnea is a serious medical condition. Complications can include:
  • Daytime fatigue.
  • High blood pressure or heart problems.
  • Type 2 diabetes.
  • Metabolic syndrome.
  • Liver problems. People with sleep apnea are more likely to have abnormal results on liver function tests, and their livers are more likely to show signs of scarring (nonalcoholic fatty liver disease).
  • Sleep-deprived partners. Loud snoring can keep anyone who sleeps near you from getting good rest. It's not uncommon for a partner to have to go to another room, or even to another floor of the house, to be able to sleep.

cpap vs dental appliance

CPAP is considered the gold standard treatment for obstructive sleep apnoea patient compliance and acceptance is usually low. If a patient has no issues complying with CPAP therapy, the sleep aid device can be very effective with a high success rate. However, many patients find it difficult to tolerate wearing the breathing mask to sleep and put up with a constant stream of pressurised air blowing through their nostrils throughout the night. On the other hand, the Mandibular Advancement Splint (MAS) is more convenient as compared to CPAP, as you won’t have to lug around a device or require a power connection to undergo the treatment. Being small and unobtrusive, the splint does not interfere with your lifestyle especially when you are traveling. The dental device is also very competitively priced as compared to conservative treatments like CPAP and much cheaper compared to surgery. If your sleep physician or medical doctor has recommended oral appliance therapy as a suitable treatment option for your obstructive sleep apnoea, Smilee Dental will be able to help you find the right solution. For more information on the range of dental treatment options we offer for sleep apnoea, please contact Smilee Dental provides at (03) 9957 5111.

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