Many people will snore occasionally but sleep apnoea is a much more serious condition. It requires proper diagnosis and treatment as sleep apnoea could affect your general health.
Unlike snoring where the noise is regular and persistent, sufferers with sleep apnoea will often cease breathing for several seconds at a time. Breathing will frequently restart with a loud gasp or snort. These pauses in breath can occur hundreds of times a night, partially awakening the sufferer and preventing a restorative night’s sleep. It is caused by the muscles in the throat relaxing, allowing the airway to collapse inwards so it becomes partially or completely blocked.
Sleep apnoea may lead to excessive daytime sleepiness, increasing the risk of accidents. People with sleep apnoea are at increased risk of high blood pressure, heart attacks or strokes.
Our dentists here at Family Dental Care can diagnose sleep apnoea using a device called a WatchPAT. This is a nighttime monitoring system you can use in the comfort of your own home. Our dentists will analyse the data collected by WatchPAT before discussing the most suitable treatments.
If you have mild to moderate sleep apnoea, we can provide a custom-made oral device to wear at night. This comfortably moves your lower jaw slightly forward, holding open the airway while you sleep. More severe cases of sleep apnoea can be treated with a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device. This device delivers a continuous supply of oxygen through a small mask during sleep.
