Sleep Apnoea and Snoring Solutions in Sydney
Snoring occurs when the air flow in your throat moves past relaxed tissues, causing them to vibrate as you breathe. While most people snore from time to time, it can become a chronic problem for some and could indicate a serious health condition. Snoring negatively impacts quality of sleep which can lead to tiredness through the day and other health conditions. Northern Beaches Dental provides you with an in depth look at this condition and how it can be treated.
Sleep Apnoea Symptoms
Snoring is typically caused by a common sleep disorder known as obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). While snoring doesn’t necessary indicate OSA, when combined with other symptoms, it may indicate the onset of sleep apnoea. Symptoms may include:
A common sign of OSA is loud snoring followed by periods of silence, sudden stopping of breathing accompanied by gagging sounds.
Sleep Apnoea Treatment
When treating OSA, your doctor may begin by recommending lifestyle changes such as:
If you require an oral appliance, dentists at Northern Beaches Dental custom design the appliance to fit your jaw perfectly. Working with a sleep specialist will ensure that the appliance is working accurately and regular dental visits every few months will help track the progress of your sleep apnoea treatment.
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)
This approach involves a mask work over the nose or mouth while you sleep. The mask is designed to direct adequately pressurised air from a pump into your air passages to keep them open while you are in bed. CPAP treatment is one of the most effective tools to treat sleep apnoea and is extremely safe.
Upper Airway Surgery
For more severe cases of sleep apnoea, a procedure called uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) tightens the trims excess tissue from the throat.
Hypoglossal nerve stimulation is a surgical procedure stimulates the nerve that controls the way your tongue operates, helping change the way the tongue moves so that it does not block the airways when you breath.
Maxillomandibular advancement (MMA) is a procedure that moves the upper and lower jaws forward to help open the airway.
Mandibular Advancement Splints
A Mandibular Advancement Splint (MAD) is a platform that fits in the mouth and is moulded to fit your teeth. It gently pushes the lower jaw forward incrementally until the right position between the tongue, soft tissue and throat is achieved. MAD devices help reduce the restriction in the throat that leads to snoring and increases the size of the upper airway. The 3 kinds of Mandibular Advancement Devices are:
Custom Mandibular Advancement Splints in New South Wales
Sleep apnoea is a condition which can lead to serious health conditions if left untreated. Book an appointment with Northern Beaches Dental today to consult our dental specialists and identify the right snoring solutions to address your snoring and sleep apnoea.