Sleep Apnoea Therapy

Sleep apnoea is a condition in which a person stops breathing for small increments of time while sleeping. The word “apnoea” means “ceasing to breathe”.

You may not realise that you have sleep apnoea because it happens while you’re asleep. One warning sign can be chronic snoring. As the muscles in the throat begin to relax the tissues can vibrate with each breath, causing snoring. While snoring doesn’t mean you have sleep apnoea, many sleep apnoea patients also snore.

The syndrome is more common in men than in women & more common in people who are older or overweight. However, that doesn’t mean that younger fit people are not at risk. Recent studies indicate that as many as 1 in 4 Americans are at high risk for sleep apnoea. If you have symptoms or signs such as snoring or daytime drowsiness even after a full night’s sleep, you should consider getting evaluated by your doctor. Your general practitioner can diagnose sleep apnoea, usually by having you undergo a sleep study.

Procedure Overview

While your regular physician is the one who diagnoses sleep apnoea & can prescribe treatment, there are also ways that the dentist can help. The most common therapy for sleep apnoea is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), which involves a machine that pumps a constant flow of air into your airways while you wear a mask. As you can imagine, this solution can be uncomfortable & awkward to sleep with & get used to, not to mention the sanitation effort that goes into maintaining a breathing machine at home.

So what does sleep apnoea have to do with your dentist? Dentistry has come up with another solution that many patients find more comfortable. Specialised dental appliances that resemble sports mouthguards can keep the lower jaw in a position that prevents the muscles of your tongue & upper throat from collapsing into your airway. Rather than being strapped into a machine, the patient can simply wear a custom-fitted dental appliance. The added benefit of these devices is that they can also prevent snoring, meaning a better night’s rest for your sleep partner too.

If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnoea, we can work with you & your doctor to come up with a plan for a dental device that will keep you breathing easily through the night.