Approximately 20% of the adult population will snore at some stage in their life. Apart from the social problems associated with Snoring, it isn’t necessarily a cause for a medical concern in itself. However, in some cases it may be a sign for a more serious underlying problem known as Obstructive Sleep Apnoea.
Obstructive Sleep Apnoea occurs during sleep when the muscles in the airway and throat relax. When this happens the soft tissue may collapse and close the airway thus obstructing breathing. This leaves the patient waking up in the middle of the night gasping for air.
Solutions
Modern techniques used at Dental Square allow us to tackle the problems of Snoring and Sleep Apnoea and provide very convenient options to manage these conditions with the use of a simple Dental Appliance.
The appliance known as the Somnosore® (to treat snoring), or the Somnomed® (to treat Sleep Apnoea) works by gently moving the lower jaw forward. This allows the airway to be opened preventing the unwanted symptoms. The appliance is simple, comfortable to wear and is successful with most patients.
Sleep Apnoea and other sleep related disorders have been closely linked to other serious health related concerns. These include high blood pressure, stroke and heart attack. Also the effects of sleep disturbance and deprivation can lead to excess daytime sleepiness, which has been shown to markedly increase the chances of motor vehicle accidents, along with home and work related injuries and less concentration and productivity at work.
Other treatments for Obstructive Sleep Apnoea include CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure), and Surgery. Our dentists will work closely with your sleep physician to determine the most suited option for you.
