Snoring and sleep apnoea treatment
Get help for your excessive and dangerous snoring
If you (or your partner) have noticed your loud, excessive snoring, it could be a sign that you’re suffering from obstructive sleep apnoea, or OSA.
OSA is a dangerous medical condition because of the way it causes your breathing to completely stop, for a few seconds or even up to a minute – incredibly, perhaps several hundred times per night.
You can imagine the serious health problems that can be caused by sleep apnoea. Fatigue, high blood pressure, depression, and an increased risk of stroke or heart attack can all be side effects of OSA.
Could you be suffering from Sleep Disordered Breathing?
It is important to understand though, that OSA is just the most well-known and severe form of a continuum of conditions called Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB). Even mild to moderate cases of SDB can have worrying consequences for your health, including chronic pain.
Of course, getting a good night’s sleep is crucial for the proper functioning of your mind and body. If you’ve noticed you have difficulty concentrating during the day, or if you’re unexpectedly tired, you may be suffering from sleep apnoea or SDB during the night.
If this is the case for you, you’re not alone. It’s thought that as many as five per cent of Australians suffer from the sleep apnoea disorder, and a staggering one third of men over the age of 30 are reported to have sleep disordered breathing. But the good news is that OSA and SDB can now be treated by Dr Andrew Teakle, right here at Wickham Terrace Dental in Brisbane.
What causes sleep apnoea?
Sleep apnoea is caused by the walls of your throat relaxing while you sleep, ‘collapsing’ and blocking your upper airway. With your airway blocked, your breathing stops – until your brain realises and alerts your body, jolting you briefly from your sleep.
You may slightly wake, and gasp or snort to open your airway, before drifting off to sleep again without realising you’ve stirred. But your natural, restful sleep rhythm will be gone, and you’ll get much less of the deep, restorative sleep that your body needs.
When you think that this sort of episode can happen hundreds of times every night, it’s easy to see how badly your sleep – and your partner’s sleep – can be affected by OSA.
Your snoring and sleep apnoea treatment
To treat your sleep apnoea, you may be able to use a custom-made dental appliance called a mandibular advancement device (MAD). You wear the MAD while you sleep, to hold your jaw forward and prevent your throat from collapsing and blocking your airway.
An MAD is a very safe, painless and non-invasive treatment that doesn’t need needles or surgery of any kind. To ensure your comfort, Dr Teakle will custom-make your splint to perfectly fit the unique shape and size of your mouth.
Get help for your sleep apnoea in Brisbane today
If you think you might be experiencing OSA, come in and talk to us about a solution for your condition. The Wickham Terrace Dental team will carry out a personalised examination to help us understand your situation, and prescribe a treatment to best suit your needs.
To arrange your personal sleep apnoea consultation with our friendly, expert Brisbane dental team, get in touch with the form to the right or call 07 3831 3031 now.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the causes of sleep apnoea?
Often caused by obesity or being overweight, sleep apnoea can also be brought on by:
- Drinking alcohol or eating a heavy meal, especially before bed
- Illnesses such as reduced thyroid production
- Taking sedatives
- Nasal congestion and obstruction
- Facial bone shape and the size of muscles
What are the symptoms of sleep apnoea?
You may have sleep apnoea if you experience any of the following symptoms:
- Loud, frequent snoring
- Unusual daytime sleepiness or fatigue
- Feeling groggy and dull when you wake
- Headaches in the morning
- Extreme mouth dryness
- The need to visit the bathroom frequently during the night
What can OSA cause if left untreated?
If undiagnosed or untreated, sleep apnoea can cause high blood pressure, heart disease, an increased risk of heart attack or stroke, the chance of motor vehicle or work accidents due to fatigue, and decreased quality of life.
Will a night-time device cause pain or discomfort?
You may feel some minor discomfort for a few weeks as your jaw muscles get used to the device in your mouth. These effects will lessen over time, as your lower jaw and tongue become accustomed to the device.
You can get used to the device in your mouth by putting on the MAD a couple of hours before going to bed. Because we custom-make your appliance, you shouldn’t feel prolonged discomfort, and the aches should disappear soon after you remove the device in the morning.