Snoring is a problem that affects 67% of adults. Snoring can cause disrupted quality of sleep for both snorers and their sleeping partners and it can lead to health problems. Snoring is the harsh sound that occurs when the tissue at the back of the roof of the mouth vibrates against the back of the throat. During sleep, throat tissues, the tongue and the muscles that line the airway all relax, narrowing the airway. Air passing through the narrower airway causes the tissues to vibrate against each other and create the snoring sound that can grow louder during sleep. Snoring may also be an indication of a bigger health problem; sleep apnoea.
Obstructive Sleep Apnoea
Obstructive Sleep Apnoea is a condition in which the soft tissues at the back of the throat completely close off the airway so that air cannot flow into the lungs. This airway blockage can reduce the amount of oxygen reaching the brain and body. When that happens, the brain alerts the muscles in the airway to tighten up and unblock the air passage. This leads to a cycle of blocking and unblocking the airway and causes significant disruption of sleep. The lack of sleep can cause: Daytime sleepiness, poor motivation, high stress levels, lack of energy and less effectiveness at work. In addition OSA also affects your health: Increased blood pressure, increased risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and affects relationships with partner. It is important for patients to see a physician or a sleep disorder specialist if they are experiencing snoring and daytime sleepiness.
Your consultation will include a thorough history and head, neck and throat evaluation to assess your situation. This information is correlated with testing to establish an accurate diagnosis and determine the appropriate treatment options.
Oral Appliance Therapy
The treatment option we offer is oral appliance therapy. Based on your specific circumstances, oral appliance therapy can be a very effective solution for treating snoring and sleep apnoea. Dentists have been treating patients with snoring and sleep apnoea conditions with oral appliance therapy since many years, with outstanding results.Oral appliances are a front-line treatment for snoring and mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnoea. These small plastic devices fit in the mouth during sleep like sports mouth guards or orthodontic retainers. Oral appliances help prevent the collapse of the tongue and soft tissues in the back of the throat, keeping the airway open during sleep and promoting adequate air intake. Oral appliances may be used alone or in combination with other treatments for sleep-related breathing disorders, such as weight management and/or surgery.