Oral appliance therapy, an alternative to CPAP for Sleep Apnoea treatment
If you have sleep apnoea, it is vital to get treatment before other health issues arise. While sleep apnoea is often associated with loud snoring, it is more than just the noise. If left untreated, sleep apnoea can lead to severe health complications, including hypertension, stroke, depression, and heart disease. The good news for residents of Moonee Ponds and surrounding areas is that Smile in Style provides effective sleep apnoea treatments, and a good night’s sleep for you and your partner.
What is sleep apnoea?
Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is the most common type among sleep apnoea patients. OSA happens when the muscles supporting the soft palate and tongue collapse while sleeping, disrupting your breathing. As a result, OSA patients experience repeated pauses in breathing at night, sometimes hundreds of times during sleep, causing the body to receive insufficient oxygen. The most common symptoms of sleep apnoea include:
- Snoring
- Daytime sleepiness
- Waking up with headaches and dry mouth
- Night sweats
- Loss of libido
- Waking up frequently at night
- Mood disturbances
- Loss of concentration
The longer you go on without sleep apnoea treatment, the more complicated it becomes. So, it’s best to schedule an appointment with a sleep physician for proper diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible.
Treating sleep apnoea with CPAP
Most sleep physicians are likely to recommend CPAP for treating sleep apnoea. While it does work well, most patients don’t follow through with this treatment. In fact, research shows that nearly 50% of CPAP patients find it challenging to comply with this treatment for a number of reasons. Most complain of the noise, while others find the machine too bulky to carry around.
Despite the health benefits of CPAP, a lot of patients don’t use it consistently. Fortunately, there is an alternative to this, which is an oral appliance.
Mandibular Advancement Splints (MAS)
At our dental office, Dr. Terry Rose may recommend a mandibular advancement splint (MAS) to patients to help with their sleep apnoea. Infact Dr Rose uses a MAS appliance himself, since being diagnosed with sleep apnoea many years ago. So he really does understand what you are going through. This device fits like a mouthguard, and you wear it while you sleep. It pushes your jaw forward to help keep your airway open throughout the night. Mandibular advancement splints are gaining popularity among sleep apnoea patients because it’s comfortable, portable, and, unlike CPAP, doesn’t require a power supply to work.
Nightlase Treatment as an adjunct for sleep apnoea.
Smile In Style has the Fotona Dental Laser that can be used in a non-invasive procedure to shine the dental laser light to the back of the throat. This laser light causes the soft tissue in the back of the throat to tighten as new collagen fibres are formed. It requires 3 or more treatments one month apart. While it doesn’t treat sleep apnoea, it can be used as an adjunct with mandibular advancement splints to improve your nights sleep.
Contact us today for sleep apnoea treatment!
Looking for sleep apnoea treatment solutions in Moonee Ponds? Please dial 03 8400 4104 to book an appointment with Smile in Style. To get a restful night’s sleep, Nightlase and/or a mandibular advancement splint may be a suitable option for you.
