Sleep apnoea’s not to be snored at!

Have you been warned about your snoring? If you’re waking up your loved ones at night with loud, heavy noises, you might not think much of it. But it could be a sign of underlying health problems such as obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). To be sure, it’s best to get checked out, both for your own safety and wellbeing.

At Woodborough House, we can provide a range of solutions to overcome OSA and stop loud snoring. We offer oral devices and a programme of care which can be tailored to suit your needs.  To find out if you’re a candidate for the oral device, we will have to diagnose your situation first.

Snoring

Snoring is caused when soft tissues in the airway vibrate. It can be treated with numerous lifestyle changes including drinking and smoking less and in severe cases, surgery may be a consideration. To determine the best option for you, consulting with a GP, trained dentist or a respiratory medicine consultant can help you to decide if an oral device or a simple change of lifestyle will benefit you.

It’s important you don’t avoid your snoring problem, as it could be caused by Obstructive Sleep Apnoea. Sleep apnoea is caused by pauses or a short absence in breath during sleep. It can cause a reduction in the quality of sleep, which can have a significant effect on people’s lives in the form of symptoms such as headaches, daytime fatigue, irritability and poor concentration. More serious suffers are also at greater risk of heart disease and diabetes. However, sleep apnoea can be treated with a variety of techniques.  Depending on how severe your snoring is will also determine the course of treatment that needs to be undertaken.

Treatments

For mild snorers this can be treated with simple lifestyle changes such as changing your sleeping position, cutting down on alcohol or smoking and losing a bit of weight.  Severe snoring problems will have to be treated with a mandibular advancement splint (MAS) which is a mouthguard to be worn at night, which is effective in around 72% of cases.  The advantage of MAS is its cost and size, its relative discreteness and the fact that it’s only worn at night. For maximum effect it must be worn every night, but most patients come to think of it as simply like wearing a sports guard at night.

Another device is the CPAP – a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure machine which can be used to help you breathe more easily while you are sleeping. There are also surgical options to consider in more severe cases.

To find out more, why not call our practice to discuss sleep apnoea with one of our experienced dentists. Call on 0118 984 3108 to talk to one of our friendly members of staff and to book a free consultation.