Snoring and
sleep apnoea

Snoring can cause disrupted sleep resulting in sleepiness during the day time, but can also disturb the sleep of others, often placing strain on relationships.

Snoring can be harmless, but can also indicate the presence of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea which is a far more serious medical condition and can lead to diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and stroke.

Sleep Apnoea

70 % of people who snore regularly also have a condition called Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA). In OSA the soft tissues of the throat collapse and partially or fully block the airway which greatly reduces or stops the flow of air. This in turn leads to a decrease in the blood oxygen level. The brain then sends a signal that arouses the sleeper who partially awakens which clears the blockage and allows air to flow again.

The sleeper is usually unaware of this pattern and it occurs regularly throughout the night and stops people from achieving deep sleep. The arousal phase is associated with spikes in adrenaline that affect the cardiovascular system and can lead to higher blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, heart disease as well as daytime sleepiness.

There are two treatment modalitles for sleep apnoea:

1. Oral appliances
2. CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) Machines

Oral appliances

Oral appliances are effective for most forms of sleep apnoea. In situations where the diagnosis is severe sleep apnoea, CPAP is the most effective form of treatment.

Oral appliances are thin pieces of laminated plastic that fit on the upper and lower teeth and work together to hold the lower jaw forward, which in turn brings the tongue forward and prevents the tissues collapsing into the back of the airway.

CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) Machines

CPAP uses compressed air delivered by a tube to a face mask to keep the airway open. CPAP is very effective, but some people find the equipment difficult to use as it can cause wakefulness in some people, dry throat and skin irritations and the machine does make some noise, which may disturb the sleep of others in the room.

Treatment

People who suffer from snoring or sleep apnoea undergo a sleep study to determine the nature and severity of their sleep disorder, under the supervision of a respiratory physician. Once a diagnosis is achieved, the appropriate therapy can be initiated. Your dentist will initiate this process.